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 in 7Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to 89the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and 10suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and 11he 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 12it will be told to you what you must do.” 7The men who traveled with him 13stood speechless, 14hearing the 15voice but seeing no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and 16though his eyes were open, he 17could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into 18Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10Now there was a disciple in 19Damascus named 20Ananias; and the Lord said to him in 21a 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 22Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen 23in a vision a man named Ananias come in and 24lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, 25how much harm he did to 26Your 27saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he 28has authority from the chief priests to 29arrest all who 30call on Your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for 31he is a chosen 32instrument of Mine, to bear My name before 33the Gentiles and 34kings and the sons of Israel; 16for 35I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after 36laying his hands on him said, “37Brother 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 38filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, 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 39for several days he was with 40the disciples who were in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus 41in the synagogues, 42saying, “He is 43the Son of God.” 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem 44destroyed those who 45called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the 46Christ.

23When 47many days had elapsed, 48the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but 49their plot became known to Saul. 50They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

2651When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But 52Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had 53seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how 54he had 55spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. 28And he was with them, 56moving about freely in Jerusalem, 57speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he was talking and arguing with the 5859Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30Now when 60the 61brothers learned of it, they brought him down to 62Caesarea and 63sent him away to 64Tarsus.

31So 65the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria 66enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it 67continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.

Peter’s Ministry

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to 68the 69saints who lived at 7071Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, 72because he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at 7374Lydda and 75Sharon saw him, and they 76turned to the Lord.

36Now in 77Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means 78Dorcas); this woman was 79excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. 37But it happened 80at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an 81upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near 82Joppa, 83the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the 84room upstairs; and all the 85widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the 86tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter 87sent them all out and 88knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “89Tabitha, 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 90the 91saints and 92widows, he presented her alive. 42It became known all over 93Joppa, and 94many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed in 95Joppa many days with 96a tanner named Simon.