Acts 9

¹ Now Saul, still breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, approaching the chief priest, ² requests from him letters for Damascus to the synagogues, so that, if he should be finding any who are of the way, both men and women, he may be leading them bound to Jerusalem. ³ Now in his going he came to be nearing Damascus. Suddenly a light out of heaven flashes about him. ⁴ And falling on the earth, he hears a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" ⁵ Yet he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" Yet He said, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. ⁶ Nevertheless, rise and enter the city, and it will be spoken to you what you must be doing." ⁷ Now the men who are journeying with him stood dumbfounded, hearing, indeed, the sound, yet beholding no one. ⁸ Now Saul was raised from the earth, yet, his eyes being open, he observed nothing. Now, leading him by the hand, they led him into Damascus, ⁹ and he was three days not observing aught, and he neither ate nor drank. ¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" Now he said, "Lo! it is I, Lord!" ¹¹ Now the Lord to him, "Rise! Go to the street called 'Straight,' and seek in the house of Judas for a Tarsian named Saul, for lo! he is praying. ¹² And he perceived in a vision a man named Ananias entering and placing his hands on him so that he should be receiving sight." ¹³ Yet Ananias answered, "Lord, I hear from many about this man, how much evil he does to Thy saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who are invoking Thy name." ¹⁵ Yet the Lord said to him "Go, for he is a choice instrument of Mine, to bear My name before both the nations and kings, besides the sons of Israel, ¹⁶ for I shall be intimating to him how much he must be suffering for My name's sake." ¹⁷ Now Ananias came away and entered the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, "Saul! Brother! The Lord has commissioned me (Jesus, Who was seen by you on the road by which you came), so that you should be receiving sight and be filled with holy spirit." ¹⁸ And immediately fall from his eyes as if scales, and he receives sight. Besides, rising, also, he is baptized, ¹⁹ and obtaining nourishment, is strengthened. Now he came to be with the disciples in Damascus some days. ²⁰ And immediately, in the synagogues, he heralded Jesus, that He is the Son of God. ²¹ Now amazed are all who are hearing, and they said, "Is not this the one who, in Jerusalem, ravages those who are invoking this Name? And for this had he come here, that he may be leading them bound to the chief priests." ²² Yet Saul was the more invigorated, and threw the Jews dwelling in Damascus into confusion, deducing that this One is the Christ. ²³ Now as a considerable number of days were fulfilled, the Jews consult to assassinate him. ²⁴ Yet known to Saul is their plot. Now they scrutinized the gates also, both by day and by night, so that they may be assassinating him. ²⁵ Yet the disciples, getting him at night, let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper. ²⁶ Now, on coming along to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; and all feared him, not believing that he is a disciple. ²⁷ Yet Barnabas, getting hold of him, led him to the apostles and relates to them how he became acquainted with the Lord on the road, and that He speaks to him, and how, in Damascus, he speaks boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ And he was with them, going in and out, in Jerusalem. ²⁹ Speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he both spoke and discussed with the Hellenists. Yet they took in hand to assassinate him. ³⁰ Now realizing this, the brethren led him down into Caesarea, and they send him away to Tarsus. ³¹ Indeed, then, the ecclesia down the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified, and, going on in the fear of the Lord and the consolation of the holy spirit, multiplied. ³² Now it occurred that Peter, passing through all, comes down to the saints who are dwelling at Lydda also. ³³ Now he found there a certain man named Eneas, eight years lying down on a pallet, who was paralyzed. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, "Eneas, Jesus Christ is healing you! Rise and spread your pallet by yourself!" And immediately he rose. ³⁵ And aware of him are all those dwelling at Lydda and Saron, who turn back to the Lord. ³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, being interpreted, is termed Dorcas ["Gazelle"]. This woman was full of good acts and alms which she did. ³⁷ Now it occurred in those days that, being infirm, she dies. Now, bathing her, they place her in an upper chamber. ³⁸ Now, Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter is in it, dispatch two men to him, entreating, "You should not be slothful in passing through to us!" ³⁹ Now Peter, rising, came together with them, whom, coming along, they led up into the upper chamber. And beside him stand all the widows, lamenting and exhibiting tunics and garments, whatever Dorcas made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ Now Peter, ejecting them all outside and kneeling, prays. And turning about to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" Now she opens her eyes, and perceiving Peter, sits up. ⁴¹ Now giving her a hand, he raises her. Now summoning the saints and the widows, he presents her alive. ⁴² Now it became known down the whole of Joppa, and many believe on the Lord. ⁴³ Now it came that he remains a considerable number of days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.