Acts 9

The Conversion of Saul

11Now 2Saul, still 3breathing 4threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2and asked for 5letters from him to 6the synagogues at 7Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to 8the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and 9suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and 10he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6but get up and enter the city, and 11it will be told you what you must do.” 7The men who traveled with him 12stood speechless, 13hearing the 14voice but seeing no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and 15though his eyes were open, he 16could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into 17Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10Now there was a disciple at 18Damascus named 19Ananias; and the Lord said to him in 20a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from 21Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen 22in a vision a man named Ananias come in and 23lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, 24how much harm he did to 25Your 26saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he 27has authority from the chief priests to bind all who 28call on Your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for 29he is a chosen 30instrument of Mine, to bear My name before 31the Gentiles and 32kings and the sons of Israel; 16for 33I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after 34laying his hands on him said, “35Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be 36filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

19and he took food and was strengthened.

Now 37for several days he was with 38the disciples who were at Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus 39in the synagogues, 40saying, “He is 41the Son of God.” 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem 42destroyed those who 43called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the 44Christ.

23When 45many days had elapsed, 46the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but 47their plot became known to Saul. 48They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

2649When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; 50but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But 51Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had 52seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how 53at Damascus he had 54spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, 55moving about freely in Jerusalem, 56speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he was talking and arguing with the 5758Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30But when 59the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to 60Caesarea and 61sent him away to 62Tarsus.

31So 63the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria 64enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Peter’s Ministry

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to 65the 66saints who lived at 6768Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at 6970Lydda and 71Sharon saw him, and they 72turned to the Lord.

36Now in 73Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called 74Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37And it happened 75at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an 76upper room. 38Since Lydda was near 77Joppa, 78the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the 79upper room; and all the 80widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the 81tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter 82sent them all out and 83knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “84Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling 85the 86saints and 87widows, he presented her alive. 42It became known all over 88Joppa, and 89many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed many days in 90Joppa with 91a tanner named Simon.