Acts 9
9
The Damascus Road
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples # Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 6:1 of the Lord. He went to the high priest # Ac 8:3; 9:13,21 2and requested letters # Ac 15:30; 22:5; 23:25,33 from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, # Ac 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22 he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As # Ac 22:6-11; 26:12-18; 1Co 15:8 he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ”
5“Who are You, Lord? ” he said.
“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. 6“But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. # Dn 10:7; Jn 12:29; Ac 22:9 8Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
Saul’s Baptism
10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias! ”
“Here I am, Lord! ” he said. # Ac 10:3,17,19; 22:12
11“Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus # Ac 9:30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3 named Saul, since he is praying there. 12In a vision # Other mss omit In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.” # Mk 5:23; Ac 9:17
13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. # Ac 8:3; 9:32; Rm 1:7; 15:25-26,31; 16:2,15 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” # Ac 7:59; 1Co 1:2; 2Tm 2:22
15But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument # Ac 13:2; Rm 1:1; Gl 1:15 to take My name to Gentiles, # Mt 28:19; Rm 1:5; Gl 1:16 kings, and the Israelites. # Ac 25:22; 26:1 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name! ” # Ac 20:23; 21:4,11; 2Co 6:4-5; 11:23-27; 1Th 3:3
17So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” # Ac 6:6; 22:13
18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19And after taking some food, he regained his strength. # Ac 11:26; 26:20
Saul Proclaiming the Messiah
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. 20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.” # Mt 4:3; Ac 13:5,14
21But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests? ” # Ac 8:3; 9:13-14; Gl 1:13,23
22But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.
23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, # Ac 20:3,19; 23:12,30; 25:3; 2Co 11:26 25but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. # Jos 2:15; 1Sm 19:12; 2Co 11:33
Saul in Jerusalem
26When he arrived in Jerusalem, # Ac 22:17; 26:20; Gl 1:17 he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly # Ac 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; Eph 6:20; 1Th 2:2 in the name of Jesus. # Ac 4:36; 9:3-6,20,22 28Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, # Lit Hellenists ; that is, Gk-speaking Jews but they attempted to kill him. # Ac 6:1; 2Co 11:26 30When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. # Ac 8:40; Gl 1:21
31So the church # Mt 16:18; 1Co 14:4; Rv 1:4 throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.
The Healing of Aeneas
32As Peter was traveling from place to place, # Lit Peter was passing through all he also came down to the saints# Rm 1:7; Eph 5:3; 6:18 who lived in Lydda. # 1Ch 8:12; Ezr 2:23; Neh 7:37; 11:35 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” # Or and get ready to eat and immediately he got up. # Ac 3:6,16; 4:10 35So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon # 1Ch 5:16; 27:29; Sg 2:1; Is 33:9; 35:2; 65:10 saw him and turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36In Joppa # Jos 19:46; 2Ch 2:16; Ezr 3:7; Jnh 1:3; Ac 10:5 there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. # = Gazelle She was always doing good works # 1Tm 2:10; Ti 3:8 and acts of charity. 37In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up! ” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. # Mt 9:25; Mk 5:41; Lk 22:41; Jn 11:43; Ac 7:60 41He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, # Ac 10:6,17,32 a leather tanner. # Tanners were considered ritually unclean because of their occupation.
Currently Selected:
Acts 9: HCSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The Acts 9
9
1But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest 2and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven, 4and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. 6But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one. 8And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.
10And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11And the Lord said to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, he is of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying, 12and has seen in a vision a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see. 13And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name. 15And the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel: 16for I will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name. 17And Ananias went and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou camest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with theHoly Spirit. 18And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised; 19and, having received food, got strength. And he was with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days. 20And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God. 21And all who heard were astonished and said, Is not this he who destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name, and here was come for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? 22But Saul increased the more in power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to kill him. 24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched also the gates both day and night, that they might kill him; 25but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26And having arrived at Jerusalem he essayed to join himself to the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, 29and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. 30And the brethren knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 31The assemblies then throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32Now it came to pass that Peter, passing through all quarters, descended also to the saints who inhabited Lydda. 33And he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name, who had been lying for eight years upon a couch, who was paralysed. 34And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus, the Christ, heals thee: rise up, and make thy couch for thyself. And straightway he rose up. 35And all who inhabited Lydda and the Saron saw him, who turned to the Lord.
36And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which being interpreted means Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did. 37And it came to pass in those days that she grew sick and died; and, having washed her, they put her in the upper room. 38But Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, beseeching him, Thou must not delay coming to us. 39And Peter rising up went with them, whom, when arrived, they brought up into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping and shewing him the body-coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40But Peter, putting them all out, and kneeling down, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. 41And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows, presented her living. 42And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.