Acts 9

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest

2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3As he was traveling, it happened that he was drawing near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4And falling to the ground, he 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 you will be told what you must do.

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

8But Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9And for three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.

10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a 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 in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.”

12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.”

14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.

15But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel,”

16For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

17So Ananias went and entered the house, and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, the one who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight; then he got up and was baptized,

19And after taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days,

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

21And all who heard him were amazed and were saying, “Isn’t this the man who devastated in Jerusalem those who call on this name? And had he not come here for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

22But Saul kept gaining strength all the more and was confounding the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this one is the Messiah.

23When many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him.

24But their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him.

25But his disciples took him by night and lowered him through the wall in a large basket.

26And when he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

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

30When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31So then the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was multiplying.

32As Peter was passing through all of them, he also went down to the saints living in Lydda.

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

34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed.” And immediately he got up.

35And all those living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which translated is called Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of mercy that she was doing.

37In those days it happened that she became sick and died. After washing her, they laid her in an upstairs room.

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging, “Do not delay to come to us.”

39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him up to the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

40But Peter put them all outside, knelt down and prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, arise.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41And giving her his hand, he raised her up; then he called the saints and the widows and presented her alive.

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

43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with a certain Simon, a tanner.