9Acts 9

1Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,Select Acts 9:1

2went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.Select Acts 9:2

3But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;Select Acts 9:3

4and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"Select Acts 9:4

5"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.Select Acts 9:5

6"But rise and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.Select Acts 9:6

7Meanwhile the men who travelled with Saul were standing dumb with amazement, hearing a sound, but seeing no one.Select Acts 9:7

8Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.Select Acts 9:8

9And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.Select Acts 9:9

10Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.Select Acts 9:10

11"Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.Select Acts 9:11

12He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."Select Acts 9:12

13"Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;Select Acts 9:13

14and here he is authorized by the High Priests to arrest all who call upon Thy name."Select Acts 9:14

15"Go," replied the Lord; "he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.Select Acts 9:15

16For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."Select Acts 9:16

17So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."Select Acts 9:17

18Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;Select Acts 9:18

19after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.Select Acts 9:19

20And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;Select Acts 9:20

21and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"Select Acts 9:21

22Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.Select Acts 9:22

23At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;Select Acts 9:23

24but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;Select Acts 9:24

25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.Select Acts 9:25

26So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.Select Acts 9:26

27Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.Select Acts 9:27

28Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,Select Acts 9:28

29and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.Select Acts 9:29

30But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.Select Acts 9:30

31The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.Select Acts 9:31

32Now Peter, as he went to town after town, came down also to God's people at Lud.Select Acts 9:32

33There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.Select Acts 9:33

34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.Select Acts 9:34

35And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.Select Acts 9:35

36Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, `Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.Select Acts 9:36

37But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.Select Acts 9:37

38Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.Select Acts 9:38

39So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.Select Acts 9:39

40Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise." Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up.Select Acts 9:40

41Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he 7 gave her back to them alive.Select Acts 9:41

42This incident became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord;Select Acts 9:42

43and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.Select Acts 9:43