Acts 9

¹But Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

²and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any who were of this way of belief, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone around a him a light from heaven;

⁴and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he answered, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

⁶But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

⁷And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

⁸And Saul arose from the earth; but when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

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

¹⁰And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

¹¹And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for lo! he prayeth,

¹²and hath seen a man, named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive sight.

¹³But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how great evils he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

¹⁴And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, Go; for this man is to me a chosen vessel, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel.

¹⁶For I myself will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

¹⁷And Ananias went away, and entered the house; and putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayst receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸And immediately there fell off from his eyes as it were scales; and he received sight, and arose, and was baptized.

¹⁹And having taken some food he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples in Damascus.

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

²¹And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name? And he hath come hither for this purpose, that he may bring them bound to the chief priests.

²²But Saul gained still more strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

²³But after many days had passed, the Jews took counsel together to kill him;

²⁴but their plot became known to Saul; and they were even watching the gates day and night to kill him.

²⁵But his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

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

²⁸And he was with them going in and out at Jerusalem,

²⁹speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he often spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; but they were endeavoring to slay him.

³⁰But the brethren obtaining knowledge of it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹The church therefore throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord; and by the exhortation of the Holy Spirit it was greatly increased.

³²And it came to pass, that as Peter went through the whole country, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.

³³And there he found a certain man named Æneas, who had lain on a bed eight years, and was palsied.

³⁴And Peter said to him, Æneas, Jesus the Christ healeth thee; arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

³⁵And all that dwelt in Lydda and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name being interpreted is the same as Dorcas, that is, Gazelle. This woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

³⁷And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.

³⁸And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent to him two men with the entreaty, Do not delay to come to us.

³⁹Then Peter arose, and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber; and all the widows came to him weeping, and showing the coats and cloaks which Dorcas made while she was with them.

⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.

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

⁴³And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.

Acts 9

¹And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

²And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

⁴And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

⁶And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

⁷And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

⁸And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

¹⁰And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

¹¹And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

¹²And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

¹³Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

¹⁴And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

¹⁶For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

¹⁷And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

¹⁹And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

²⁰And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

²¹But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

²²But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

²³And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

²⁴But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

²⁵Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

²⁶And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

²⁸And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

²⁹And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

³⁰Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

³²And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

³³And there he found a certain man named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

³⁴And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

³⁵And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

³⁶Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

³⁷And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

³⁸And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

³⁹Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

⁴²And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

⁴³And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.