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.
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Acts 9: HCSB
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Acts 9
9
The Conversion of Saul
1But Saul, #ver. 13, 21; See ch. 8:3 still #[Ps. 27:12] breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to #ch. 22:5; 26:10the high priest 2and asked him for letters #ch. 22:19; [Luke 12:11; 21:12] to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to #ch. 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; [ch. 16:17; 18:25, 26; 22:4; Isa. 30:21; 35:8; Amos 8:14]the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3#For ver. 3-8, see ch. 22:6-11; 26:12-18; [1 Cor. 15:8]Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting #[Isa. 63:9; Zech. 2:8]me?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, #[See ver. 4 above]whom you are persecuting. 6But #[Ezek. 3:22; Gal. 1:1] rise and enter the city, and you will be told #ver. 16; [1 Cor. 9:16]what you are to do.” 7#[Dan. 10:7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, #[ch. 22:9 with John 12:29]hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, #[ch. 22:11]he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named #ch. 22:12 Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, #Gen. 22:1; Isa. 6:8“Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man #ch. 21:39; 22:3of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and #ver. 17; See Mark 5:23lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, #ver. 1, 2 how much evil he has done to #1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:10 your #Rom. 15:25, 26, 31saints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from #ver. 21 the chief priests to bind all who #ch. 22:16; Rom. 10:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; [ch. 7:59; 2 Tim. 2:22]call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for #[ch. 13:2; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:15; Eph. 3:7] he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name #Rom. 1:5 (Gk.); 11:13; 15:16; Gal. 1:16; 2:2, 7-9; Eph. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 4:17 before the Gentiles and #ch. 25:22, 23; 26:1, 32; 2 Tim. 4:16kings and the children of Israel. 16For #ch. 20:23; 21:4, 11; 1 Thess. 3:3 I will show him how much #ver. 6; [ch. 14:22; 2 Cor. 6:4, 5; 11:23-28] he must suffer #See ch. 5:41for the sake of my name.” 17So #ch. 22:12-14 Ananias departed and entered the house. And #ver. 12 laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and #See ch. 2:4be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and #ch. 22:13 he regained his sight. Then #ch. 22:16he rose and was baptized; 19and #[ver. 9] taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For #ch. 26:20some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, #[ver. 22]“He is the Son of God.” 21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who #ver. 13, 14 made havoc #Gal. 1:13, 23in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul #See 1 Tim. 1:12 increased all the more in strength, and #ch. 18:28 confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving #[ver. 20]that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 # [Gal. 1:17, 18] When many days had passed, the Jews#9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time plotted to kill him, 24but their #ch. 20:3, 19; 23:30; [ch. 23:12; 25:3] plot became known to Saul. #2 Cor. 11:32They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and #2 Cor. 11:33; [Josh. 2:15; 1 Sam. 19:12]let him down through an opening in the wall,#9:25 Greek through the wall lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26And #ch. 22:17-20; 26:20when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But #ch. 4:36 Barnabas took him and #[Gal. 1:18, 19] brought him to the apostles and declared to them #ver. 3-6 how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and #ver. 19, 20, 22 how at Damascus he had #See ch. 4:29preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28So he went #ch. 1:21in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he spoke and disputed against #See ch. 6:1 the Hellenists.#9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews But #[ch. 22:18]they were seeking to kill him. 30And when #See John 21:23 the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off #[ch. 11:25; Gal. 1:21]to Tarsus.
31So #[ch. 8:1; 16:5] the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And #[Neh. 5:9] walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, #ver. 35, 42it multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32Now #[ch. 8:25]as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, #[ch. 3:6]Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35#[ver. 31, 42] And all the residents of Lydda and #1 Chr. 5:16; 27:29; Song 2:1 Sharon saw him, and #ch. 11:21; 2 Cor. 3:16they turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36Now there was in #See Josh. 19:46 Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.#9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle She was full of #1 Tim. 2:10good works and acts of charity. 37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in #ver. 39; ch. 1:13; 20:8an upper room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, #Num. 22:16 (Heb.; Gk.)“Please come to us without delay.” 39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to #ver. 37the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics#9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40But Peter #Matt. 9:25 put them all outside, and #See ch. 7:60 knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body #[Mark 5:41; John 11:43]he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and #[John 11:45; 12:11]many believed in the Lord. 43And he stayed in Joppa for many days #ch. 10:6with one Simon, a tanner.
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