Acts 9
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats 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.
and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorising him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.
3 As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him.
4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him — “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
“Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice answered;
6 But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”
“Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw 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.
When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus;
9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
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.”
Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said: “Ananias.” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
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,
“Go at once,” said the Lord, “to the ‘Straight Street’, and ask at Judas’s house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment 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.”
and he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover 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.
“Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard from many people about this man — how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your People there.
14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
And, here, too, he holds authority from the Chief Priests to put in chains all those who invoke 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.
But the Lord said to him: “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my Name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my Name.”
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.”
So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said: “Saul, my Brother, I have been sent by the Lord — by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here — so that you may recover 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.
Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized,
19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
and, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus,
20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
and at once began in the Synagogues to proclaim Jesus as 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!”
All who heard him were amazed. “Is not this,” they asked, “the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken 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.
Saul’s influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,
After some time the Jews laid a plot to kill Saul,
24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him;
25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
but his disciples let him down by night through an opening in 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.
On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really 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.
Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought him to the Apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fearlessly in the Name of Jesus.
28 He was with them entering into Jerusalem,
After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close intercourse with the Apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the Name of the Lord,
29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him.
30 When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
But, when the Brethren found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way 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.
And so it came about that the Church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by reverence for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
Peter, while traveling from place to place throughout the country, went down to visit the People of Christ living at Lydda.
33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bed-ridden for eight years with paralysis.
34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed.” Aeneas got up at once;
35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
and all the inhabitants of Lydda and of the Plain of Sharon saw him, and came over to the Lord’s side.
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.
At Jaffa there lived a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which is in Greek ‘Dorcas’ — a Gazelle. Her life was spent in doing kind and charitable actions.
37 In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Just at that time she was taken ill, and died; and they had washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs 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.
Jaffa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he would come on to them without delay.
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.
Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came round him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among 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.
But Peter sent everybody out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha! stand up.” She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up.
41 He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Giving her his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ’s People, presented her to them alive.
42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
This became known all through Jaffa, and numbers of People came to believe in the Lord.
43 He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
And Peter stayed some days at Jaffa with a tanner named Simon.
