9
1 But
Saul, still
breathing threats and
slaughter against
the disciples of
the Lord, went
to the high priest
2 and asked
for letters from
him to the
synagogues of
Damascus, that if
he found any
who were of
the Way, whether
men or women,
he might bring
them bound to
Jerusalem.
3 As
he traveled, he
got close to
Damascus, and
suddenly a light
from the sky
shone around him.
4 He
fell on the
earth, and heard a
voice saying to
him,
“Saul, Saul,
why do you
persecute me?”
5 He
said, “Who are
you, Lord?”
The Lord said,
“I am Jesus,
whom you are
persecuting.
6 But
rise up and
enter into the
city, then you
will be told
what you must
do.”
7 The
men who traveled
with him stood
speechless, hearing the
sound, but seeing
no one.
8 Saul
arose from the
ground, and when
his eyes
were opened, he saw
no one. They
led him by
the hand and
brought him into
Damascus.
9 He
was without sight
for three days,
and neither ate
nor drank.
10 Now
there was a
certain disciple
at Damascus
named Ananias. The
Lord said to
him in a
vision, “Ananias!”
He said, “Behold,
it’s me,
Lord.”
11 The
Lord said to
him,
“Arise and go
to the street
which is called
Straight, and
inquire in the
house of
Judah
for one named
Saul, a man of
Tarsus. For
behold, he is
praying,
12 and in a
vision he has
seen a man
named Ananias coming
in and laying
his hands on
him, that he
might receive his
sight.”
13 But Ananias
answered, “Lord, I
have heard from
many about this
man, how much
evil he did
to your saints at
Jerusalem.
14 Here
he has authority
from the
chief priests to
bind all who
call on your
name.”
15 But
the Lord said
to him,
“Go your way,
for he is
my chosen vessel
to bear my
name before the
nations and
kings, and the
children of
Israel.
16 For I will
show him how
many things he
must suffer for
my name’s
sake.”
17 Ananias departed
and entered into
the house. Laying
his hands on
him, he said,
“Brother Saul, the
Lord, who appeared
to you on
the road by
which you came,
has sent me
that you
may receive your
sight and be
filled with the
Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately
something like
scales fell from
his eyes, and
he received his
sight. He arose
and was baptized.
19 He
took food and
was strengthened.
Saul stayed several days
with the disciples
who were at
Damascus.
20 Immediately
in the synagogues
he proclaimed
the Christ, that
he is the
Son of God.
21 All
who heard him were
amazed, and said,
“Isn’t this he
who in Jerusalem
made havoc of
those who called
on this name?
And he had
come here intending
to bring them
bound before the
chief priests!”
22 But
Saul increased
more in strength,
and confounded the
Jews who lived
at Damascus,
proving that this
is the Christ.
23 When
many days were
fulfilled, the
Jews conspired together
to kill him,
24 but
their plot became
known to Saul.
They watched the
gates both day
and night that
they might kill
him,
25 but
his disciples took
him by night
and let him
down through the
wall, lowering him
in a basket.
26 When Saul
had come to
Jerusalem, he
tried to join
himself to the
disciples; but
they were all
afraid of him,
not believing that
he was a
disciple.
27 But Barnabas
took him and
brought him to
the apostles, and
declared to them
how he had
seen the Lord
on the way,
and that he
had spoken to
him, and how
at Damascus he
had preached
boldly in the
name of Jesus.
28 He
was with them
entering into
Jerusalem,
29 preaching boldly in
the name of the
Lord Jesus.
He spoke and
disputed against
the Hellenists,
but they
were seeking to kill
him.
30 When
the brothers
knew it, they
brought him down
to Caesarea and
sent him off
to Tarsus.
31 So
the assemblies
throughout all
Judea, Galilee,
and Samaria had
peace and were
built up. They
were multiplied,
walking in the
fear of the
Lord and in
the comfort of
the Holy Spirit.
32 As
Peter went
throughout all
those parts, he
came down also
to the saints who
lived at Lydda.
33 There
he found a
certain man
named Aeneas, who
had been bedridden
for eight years
because he was
paralyzed.
34 Peter
said to him,
“Aeneas, Jesus Christ
heals you. Get
up and make
your bed!”
Immediately he arose.
35 All
who lived at
Lydda and in
Sharon saw him,
and they turned
to the Lord.
36 Now
there was at
Joppa a certain
disciple named
Tabitha, which
when translated
means Dorcas.
This woman was
full of good
works and acts
of mercy which she
did.
37 In
those days, she
became sick and
died. When they
had washed her,
they laid her
in an upper
room.
38 As
Lydda was near
Joppa, the
disciples, hearing that
Peter was there,
sent two men
to him, imploring
him not to
delay in coming
to them.
39 Peter got
up and went
with them. When
he had come,
they brought him
into the upper
room. All the
widows stood by
him weeping, and
showing the tunics
and other garments
which Dorcas had
made while she
was with them.
40 Peter
sent them all
out, and knelt
down and prayed.
Turning to the
body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!”
She opened her
eyes, and when
she saw Peter,
she sat up.
41 He
gave her his
hand and raised
her up. Calling
the saints and
widows, he
presented her
alive.
42 This
became known
throughout all
Joppa, and many
believed in the
Lord.
43 He
stayed many days
in Joppa with
a tanner named
Simon.