Acts 9
1 But meanwhile Saul was making violent threats against the disciples of the Lord, wanting to kill them. He went to the high priest
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked for letters of authorization to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, giving him permission to arrest any believers in the Way that he found, men or women, and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.
and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.
3 As Saul approached Damascus, suddenly he was surrounded by a light that blazed down from heaven.
And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.
4 He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting,” he replied.
And he said, "Who are you Lord?"
6 “Get up, go on into the city, and you'll be told what to do.”
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said. "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do."
7 The men who were traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice speaking, but they didn't see anyone.
Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one.
8 Saul got to his feet, and when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. His companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9 For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.
And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking.
10 A follower of Jesus called Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. “Ananias!” he called. “I'm here, Lord,” Ananias responded.
Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."
11 “Get up, and go to Straight Street,” the Lord told him. “Ask at Judas' house for someone called Saul, from Tarsus. He's praying.
And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named ‘Straight,’ and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul.
12 He's seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 “But Lord,” Ananias replied, “I've heard a lot about this man—about all the evil things he did to the believers in Jerusalem.
"But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem!
14 The chief priests have given him the power to arrest everyone here that worships and follows you.”
"In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name."
15 But the Lord told him, “Get on your way, because he is the person I have chosen to take my name to foreigners and kings, as well as to Israel.
"Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also;
16 I will show him what he'll have to suffer for my name's sake.”
"for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name."
17 So Ananias left and went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling here, has sent me so you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, 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 his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized.
Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19 He also had something to eat and felt stronger. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.
20 He immediately started speaking in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”
And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God.
21 All who heard him were amazed, and asked, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble in Jerusalem for those who believed in Jesus? Wasn't he coming here to have the believers arrested and taken in chains to the chief priests?”
His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"
22 Saul grew more and more confident, proving Jesus was the Messiah so convincingly that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not refute him.
But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
23 Some time later the Jews plotted together to kill him,
And when many days were fulfilled the Jews made a plot to kill Saul;
24 but Saul learned of their intentions. Day and night they waited by the city gates looking for the chance to murder him.
but information of their plot was given Saul, and although they kept watch day and night on the gates, in order to make away with him,
25 So during the night his followers took him and lowered him down in a basket from an opening in the city wall.
his disciples took him by night, and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they were not convinced he was really a disciple.
So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 However, Barnabas took him to meet the apostles, and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also explained how in Damascus Saul had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus boldly at Damascus.
28 Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem,
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city, and speaking fearlessly in the Name of the Lord.
29 speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him.
He also used to hold conversations and debates with the Grecian Jews, but they kept trying to kill him.
30 When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.
When they learned this the brothers took him down to Caesarea, and then sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 During this time the whole church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was left in peace. The church grew strong and increased rapidly in numbers as the believers lived reverently for the Lord, encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda.
Now Peter, as he was going from town to town, came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33 There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
Here he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, a paralytic.
34 Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up.
Peter said to him. "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Rise and make your own bed!"
35 Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in the Lord.
At once he rose to his feet. All the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek). She was always doing good and helping the poor.
Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha - which may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle" - a woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.
37 However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room.
She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 Lydda was near Joppa, so the disciples in Joppa, hearing that Peter was in Lydda, sent two men to him with the message, “Please come to us right away.”
And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the entreaty, "Delay not to come to us."
39 So Peter got ready and left with them. When he arrived they took him upstairs. All the widows were there crying, and they showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up- stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.
40 Peter told them all to leave, kneeled down, and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
41 He took her by the hand and lifted her up. He called in the believers and the widows, and presented her to them alive.
Then he gave her his hand and raised her up, and after calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
This incident became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 Peter spent a long time in Joppa, staying at the house of Simon the tanner.
Peter stayed for some time in Joppa, lodging in the house of Simon, the tanner.
