1Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest.2He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.3On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.4He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?’5‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus,’ he replied. ‘I am the one you are opposing.6Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.’7The men travelling with Saul stood there. They weren’t able to speak. They had heard the sound. But they didn’t see anyone.8Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.9For three days he was blind. He didn’t eat or drink anything.10In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. ‘Ananias!’ he said. ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.11The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying.12In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.’13‘Lord’, Ananias answered, ‘I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem.14Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.’15But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel.16I will show him how much he must suffer for me.’17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. ‘Brother Saul’, he said, ‘you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.’18Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptised.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
19After eating some food, he got his strength back. Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus.20Right away he began to preach in the synagogues. He taught that Jesus is the Son of God.21All who heard him were amazed. They asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem? Didn’t he make trouble for those who worship Jesus? Hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’22But Saul grew more and more powerful. The Jews living in Damascus couldn’t believe what was happening. Saul proved to them that Jesus is the Messiah.23After many days, the Jews had a meeting. They planned to kill Saul.24But he learned about their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates closely in order to kill him.25But his followers helped him escape by night. They lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.26When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the believers. But they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really one of Jesus’ followers.27But Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them about Saul’s journey. He said that Saul had seen the Lord. He told how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also said that Saul had preached without fear in Jesus’ name in Damascus.28So Saul stayed with the believers. He moved about freely in Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the Lord’s name.29He talked and argued with the Greek Jews. But they tried to kill him.30The other believers heard about this. They took Saul down to Caesarea. From there they sent him off to Tarsus.31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The church was strengthened and grew larger. That’s because they worshipped the Lord and the Holy Spirit helped them.
Peter heals Aeneas and Dorcas
32Peter travelled around the country. He went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.33There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed.34‘Aeneas’, Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!’ So Aeneas got up right away.35Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.36In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people.37About that time she became ill and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs.38Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, ‘Please come at once!’39Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.40Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned towards the dead woman. He said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive.42This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord.43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather.
Acts 9
English Standard Version
The Conversion of Saul
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (Ps 27:12; Ac 8:3; Ac 9:13; Ac 9:21; Ac 22:5; Ac 26:10)2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Isa 30:21; Isa 35:8; Am 8:14; Lu 12:11; Lu 21:12; Ac 16:17; Ac 18:25; Ac 19:9; Ac 19:23; Ac 22:4; Ac 22:19; Ac 24:14; Ac 24:22)3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. (Ac 22:6; Ac 26:12; 1Co 15:8)4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Isa 63:9; Zec 2:8)5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Ac 9:4)6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Eze 3:22; Ac 9:16; 1Co 9:16; Ga 1:1)7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. (Da 10:7; Joh 12:29; Ac 22:9)8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. (Ac 22:11)9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” (Ge 22:1; Isa 6:8; Ac 22:12)11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, (Ac 21:39; Ac 22:3)12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” (Mr 5:23; Ac 9:17)13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. (Ac 9:1; Ro 15:25; Ro 15:31; 1Th 3:13; 2Th 1:10)14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (Ac 7:59; Ac 9:21; Ac 22:16; Ro 10:13; 1Co 1:2; 2Ti 2:22)15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (Ac 13:2; Ac 25:22; Ac 26:1; Ac 26:32; Ro 1:1; Ro 1:5; Ro 11:13; Ro 15:16; Ga 1:15; Ga 1:16; Ga 2:2; Ga 2:7; Eph 3:7; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 4:16; 2Ti 4:17)16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Ac 5:41; Ac 9:6; Ac 14:22; Ac 20:23; Ac 21:4; Ac 21:11; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 11:23; 1Th 3:3)17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ac 2:4; Ac 9:12; Ac 22:12)18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; (Ac 22:13; Ac 22:16)
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. (Ac 9:9; Ac 26:20)20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Ac 9:22)21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Ac 9:13; Ga 1:13; Ga 1:23)22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Ac 9:20; Ac 18:28; 1Ti 1:12)
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23When many days had passed, the Jews[1] plotted to kill him, (Ga 1:17)24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, (Ac 20:3; Ac 20:19; Ac 23:12; Ac 23:30; Ac 25:3; 2Co 11:32)25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,[2] lowering him in a basket. (Jos 2:15; 1Sa 19:12; 2Co 11:33)
Saul in Jerusalem
26And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. (Ac 22:17; Ac 26:20)27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. (Ac 4:29; Ac 4:36; Ac 9:3; Ac 9:19; Ac 9:22; Ga 1:18)28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. (Ac 1:21)29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[3] But they were seeking to kill him. (Ac 6:1; Ac 22:18)30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. (Joh 21:23; Ac 11:25; Ga 1:21)31So 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 comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Ne 5:9; Ac 8:1; Ac 9:35; Ac 9:42; Ac 16:5)
The Healing of Aeneas
32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. (Ac 8:25)33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. (Ac 3:6)35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. (1Ch 5:16; 1Ch 27:29; So 2:1; Ac 9:31; Ac 9:42; Ac 11:21; 2Co 3:16)
Dorcas Restored to Life
36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[4] She was full of good works and acts of charity. (Jos 19:46; 1Ti 2:10)37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. (Ac 1:13; Ac 9:39; Ac 20:8)38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” (Nu 22:16)39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[5] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. (Ac 9:37)40But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. (Mt 9:25; Mr 5:41; Joh 11:43; Ac 7:60)41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Joh 11:45; Joh 12:11)43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. (Ac 10:6)