Acts 9

9 ¹But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest, ²and asked him for letters to Damascus's synagogues, so that if he found any of the Way, men or women, he could bring them bound to Jerusalem. ^a a v2 "The Way" was the earliest name for the followers of Jesus, before they were called Christians. ³As he traveled and was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

⁵He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

⁶But rise 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. ⁸Saul got up from the ground, but with eyes open he saw nothing; they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹He was blind for three days and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. In a vision the Lord said, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord."

¹¹The Lord said to him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and look in Judas's house for a man from Tarsus named Saul—he is praying, ¹²and in a vision has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so he may see again."

¹³Ananias replied, "Lord, many have told me about this man—the harm he's done your holy ones 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, for this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before nations, kings, and Israel's people. ¹⁶For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

¹⁷Ananias went and entered the house. He laid hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus—who appeared to you on the road you traveled—sent me so you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹and after eating, he regained his strength. For some days he was with the disciples in Damascus, ²⁰and immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of our Father. ²¹All who heard were amazed and said, "Isn't this the man who caused such havoc in Jerusalem among those calling on this name? And hasn't he come here for this: to bring them bound before the chief priests?"

²²But Saul grew stronger still, bewildering the Jews living in Damascus by proving this one is the Christ.

²³After many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, ²⁴but Saul learned of their plot; they watched the gates day and night to kill him, ²⁵but at night his disciples lowered him through the wall in a basket.

²⁶Arriving in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but all feared him, not believing he was a disciple. ²⁷But Barnabas took him to the apostles and explained how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, who spoke to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in Jesus' name. ²⁸So he was with them, moving freely about Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹He spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. ^b b v29 Hellenists: Greek-speaking Jews who had adopted Greek language and culture. ³⁰When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Son Heals Aeneas Through Peter

³¹So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened; walking in the fear of the Lord and comforted by the Holy Spirit, it multiplied in number.

³²As Peter traveled among all the believers, he also went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. ³³There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. ³⁴Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up, make your bed." He got up at once. ³⁵And all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶In Joppa lived a disciple named Tabitha, meaning Dorcas. She was full of good works and help for the poor. ^c c v36 Both Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean "gazelle." ³⁷In those days she got sick and died; they washed her and laid her in an upstairs room. ³⁸Since Lydda was near Joppa, disciples who heard Peter was there sent two men to him, urging, "Don't delay coming to us." ³⁹So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him crying, showing the tunics and cloaks Dorcas had made while with them. ⁴⁰Peter sent everyone out, knelt, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. ⁴¹Giving her his hand, he raised her up. Calling the holy ones and the widows, he 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 man named Simon, a tanner.