Acts 9

The Conversion of Saul

1 But Saul, *ver. 13, 21;See ch. 8:3still *[Ps. 27:12] breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to *ch. 22:5;26:10the high priest 2 and asked him for letters *ch. 22:19;[Luke 12:11;21:12] to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to *ch. 19:9,23;24:14,22;[ch. 16:17;18:25,26;22:4;Isa. 30:21;35:8;Amos 8:14]the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 *For ver. 3-8, see ch. 22:6-11;26:12-18;[1 Cor. 15:8]Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting *[Isa. 63:9;Zech. 2:8]me?"5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, *[See ver. 4above]whom you are persecuting.6 But *[Ezek. 3:22;Gal. 1:1] rise and enter the city, and you will be told *ver. 16;[1 Cor. 9:16]what you are to do."7 *[Dan. 10:7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, *[ch. 22:9with John 12:29]hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, *[ch. 22:11]he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named *ch. 22:12Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, *Gen. 22:1;Isa. 6:8"Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man *ch. 21:39;22:3of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and *ver. 17;See Mark 5:23lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, *ver. 1, 2how much evil he has done to *1 Thess. 3:13;2 Thess. 1:10your *Rom. 15:25,26,31saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from *ver. 21the chief priests to bind all who *ch. 22:16;Rom. 10:13;1 Cor. 1:2;[ch. 7:59;2 Tim. 2:22]call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for *[ch. 13:2;Rom. 1:1;Gal. 1:15;Eph. 3:7] he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name *Rom. 1:5(Gk.);11:13;15:16;Gal. 1:16;2:2,7-9;Eph. 3:7,8;1 Tim. 2:7;2 Tim. 4:17before the Gentiles and *ch. 25:22,23;26:1,32;2 Tim. 4:16kings and the children of Israel.16 For *ch. 20:23;21:4,11;1 Thess. 3:3I will show him how much *ver. 6;[ch. 14:22;2 Cor. 6:4,5;11:23-28] he must suffer *See ch. 5:41for the sake of my name."17 So *ch. 22:12-14Ananias departed and entered the house. And *ver. 12laying 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 *See ch. 2:4be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and *ch. 22:13he regained his sight. Then *ch. 22:16he rose and was baptized; 19 and *[ver. 9] taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For *ch. 26:20some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, *[ver. 22]"He is the Son of God." 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who *ver. 13, 14made havoc *Gal. 1:13,23in 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?" 22 But Saul *See 1 Tim. 1:12increased all the more in strength, and *ch. 18:28confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving *[ver. 20]that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 *[Gal. 1:17,18]When many days had passed, the Jews*9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time plotted to kill him, 24 but their *ch. 20:3,19;23:30;[ch. 23:12;25:3] plot became known to Saul. *2 Cor. 11:32They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and *2 Cor. 11:33;[Josh. 2:15;1 Sam. 19:12]let him down through an opening in the wall,*9:25 Greek through the wall lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And *ch. 22:17-20;26:20when 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. 27 But *ch. 4:36Barnabas took him and *[Gal. 1:18,19] brought him to the apostles and declared to them *ver. 3-6how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and *ver. 19, 20, 22how at Damascus he had *See ch. 4:29preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went *ch. 1:21in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against *See ch. 6:1the Hellenists.*9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews But *[ch. 22:18]they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when *See John 21:23the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off *[ch. 11:25;Gal. 1:21]to Tarsus.

31 So *[ch. 8:1;16:5] the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And *[Neh. 5:9] walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, *ver. 35, 42it multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now *[ch. 8:25]as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, *[ch. 3:6]Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. 35 *[ver. 31, 42] And all the residents of Lydda and *1 Chr. 5:16;27:29;Song 2:1Sharon saw him, and *ch. 11:21;2 Cor. 3:16they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in *See Josh. 19:46Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.*9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle She was full of *1 Tim. 2:10good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in *ver. 39;ch. 1:13;20:8an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, *Num. 22:16(Heb.; Gk.)"Please come to us without delay." 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to *ver. 37the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics*9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter *Matt. 9:25put them all outside, and *See ch. 7:60knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body *[Mark 5:41;John 11:43]he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and *[John 11:45;12:11]many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days *ch. 10:6with one Simon, a tanner.