Acts 9

¹Now Saul, still breathing out threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the high priest,

²requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any being of the Way, both men and women, having bound them, he might bring them to Jerusalem.

³Now in going, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

⁴And having fallen on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

⁵And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

⁶“But rise up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you that which it is necessary for you to do.”

⁷And the men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice indeed, but seeing no one.

⁸And Saul rose up from the ground, but his eyes having been opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him to Damascus.

⁹And he was three days without seeing, and he did not eat, nor did he drink.

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, it is I, Lord.”

¹¹And the Lord said to him, “Having risen up, go into the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas the one of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

¹²and he saw in a vision a man named Ananias having come and having put the hands on him so that he might see again.”

¹³But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, how many evils he did to Your saints in Jerusalem.

¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all those calling on Your name.”

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is to Me a vessel of choice to carry My name before the Gentiles, and also kings and the sons of Israel.

¹⁶For I will show to him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for My name.”

¹⁷And Ananias went away and entered into the house; and having laid the hands upon him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, the One having appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may see again and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he saw again. And having risen up, he was baptized,

¹⁹and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples in Damascus.

²⁰And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

²¹And all those hearing were amazed and were saying, “Is this not the one having ravaged those in Jerusalem calling on this name? And he had come here for this, so that he might bring them, having been bound, to the chief priests.”

²²But Saul was empowered all the more and kept confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

²³Now when many days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him,

²⁴but their plot became known to Saul. And now they were closely watching the gates day and also night so that they might kill him.

²⁵But having taken him by night, his disciples let him down through the wall, having lowered him in a basket.

²⁶And having arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to join the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple.

²⁷But Barnabas, having taken him, brought him to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸And he was coming in and going out with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

²⁹And he was speaking and was debating with the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.

³⁰But the brothers, having known, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹Then indeed the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified. And going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

³²Now it came to pass that Peter, passing through all quarters, also went down to the saints inhabiting Lydda.

³³And he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed, lying on a bed for eight years.

³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise up and make the bed for yourself.” And immediately he rose up,

³⁵and all those inhabiting Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

³⁶Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which, translated, is called Dorcas). She was full of good works and of alms that she continually did.

³⁷But in those days it came to pass that having become sick, she died. And having washed her, they put her in an upper room.

³⁸Now Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter is in it, sent two men to him, imploring, “Do not delay to come to us.”

³⁹And Peter, having risen up, went with them, who, having arrived, brought him into the upper room. And all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while being with them.

⁴⁰And Peter, having put all outside and having bowed the knees, prayed. And having turned to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹And having given her his hand, he raised her up. And having called the saints and the widows, he presented her being alive.

⁴²And it became known throughout all of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

⁴³And it came to pass that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.