Acts 9
9
Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus
1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest 2and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem.
3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?”
The person replied, “I’m Jesus, the one you’re persecuting. 6Get up! Go into the city, and you’ll be told what you should do.”
7Meanwhile, the men traveling with him were speechless. They heard the voice but didn’t see anyone.
8Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his companions led him into Damascus. 9For three days he couldn’t see and didn’t eat or drink.
10A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord.”
11The Lord told him, “Get up! Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He’s praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13Ananias replied, “Lord, I’ve heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison.”
15The Lord told Ananias, “Go! I’ve chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel. 16I’ll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name.”
17Ananias left and entered Judas’ house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized. 19After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him.
Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days. 20He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. 21Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn’t he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests ⌞in Jerusalem⌟?”
22Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 23Later the Jews planned to murder Saul, 24but Saul was told about their plot. They were watching the city gates day and night in order to murder him. 25However, Saul’s disciples lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall one night.
26After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him. They wouldn’t believe that he was a disciple.
27Then Barnabas took an interest in Saul and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul had spoken about the one named Jesus in the city of Damascus. 28Then Saul went throughout Jerusalem with the disciples. He spoke boldly with the power and authority of the Lord.
29He talked and argued with Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30As soon as the disciples found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Peter Heals Aeneas
32When Peter was going around to all of God’s people, he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda. 33In Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and confined to a cot for eight years.
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and pick up your cot.” Aeneas immediately got up.
35Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.
Peter Brings Tabitha Back to Life
36A disciple named Tabitha lived in the city of Joppa. Her Greek name was Dorcas. She always helped people and gave things to the poor. 37She became sick and died. Her body was prepared for burial and was laid in an upstairs room.
38Lydda is near the city of Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him. They begged Peter, “Hurry to Joppa! We need your help!”
39So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter made everyone leave the room.
He knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!”
Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41Peter took her hand and helped her stand up. After he called the believers, especially the widows, he presented Tabitha to them. She was alive.
42The news about this spread throughout the city of Joppa, and as a result, many people believed in the Lord.
43Peter stayed in Joppa for a number of days with Simon, a leatherworker.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Acts 9
9
The Conversion of Saul
Ac 22:6–16; 26:12–18
1#Ac 8:3; Ps 27:12Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2#Ac 19:9; 19:23and requested letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any there of the Way, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3#1Co 15:8; Ac 22:6As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4#Isa 63:9; Zec 2:8He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5He said, “Who are You, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6Trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” The Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7#Ac 22:9; Da 10:7; Jn 12:29The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. 8#Ac 22:11; 9:18Saul rose up from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9#Est 4:16For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10#Ac 10:3; 22:12A disciple named Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
He said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11#Ac 21:39; 22:3The Lord said to him, “Rise and go to Straight Street, and inquire at Judas’ house for someone named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying, 12#Mk 5:23and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he may see again.”
13#Ac 8:3; 9:1Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. 14#Ac 9:21; 7:59And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15#Ac 13:2; Eph 3:7–8But the Lord said to him, “Go your way. For this man is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the sons of Israel. 16#Ac 21:11; 2Co 11:23–27For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17#Ac 2:4; 6:6Then Ananias went his way and entered the house. Putting his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18#Ac 22:16Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. And he rose up and was baptized. 19#Ac 26:20When he had eaten, he was strengthened.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus. 20Immediately he preached in the synagogues that the Christ is the Son of God. 21#Ac 8:3; 9:13–14All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this he who killed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here with that intent, to bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22#Ac 18:5Yet Saul increased all the more with power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.
Saul Escapes from the Jews
23After many days had passed, the Jews arranged to kill him. 24#Ac 25:3; 2Co 11:32But their scheme was known by Saul. They watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25#2Co 11:33; Jos 2:15But the disciples took him by night, and lowered him in a basket through the wall.
Saul in Jerusalem
26#Ac 26:20When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they all feared him, not believing he was a disciple. 27#Ac 4:36; 4:29But Barnabas took him, and led him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28#Ac 1:21So he stayed with them while coming in and going out of Jerusalem. 29#Ac 6:1; 2Co 11:26And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists. But they tried to kill him. 30#Ac 8:40; 9:11When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
31#Ac 8:1; Ne 5:9Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32#Ac 9:13; 8:25As Peter passed through every region, he came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. 34#Ac 3:6; 3:16Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Rise up and make your bed.” And immediately he rose up. 35#1Ch 5:16; Ac 11:21All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36#2Ch 2:16; Ezr 3:7In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsgiving. 37#Ac 1:13; 20:8In those days she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they placed her in an upper room. 38#Ac 9:36Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, pleading, “Do not delay to come to us.”
39Peter rose up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40#Mt 9:25; Ac 7:60Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41#Ac 6:1He gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42#Jn 11:45; 12:11It became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43#Ac 10:6; 10:32He remained in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.
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