The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 9 -

(Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)

But Saul, still speaking threats even of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and asked him for letters for the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he was traveling, it happened that as he came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone all around him a light out of heaven;

and he fell upon the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting;

but rise, enter into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

The men who traveled with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

Saul arose from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

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

Ananias Baptizes Saul

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “See, I am here, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying;

and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, in order that he might receive his sight.”

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.

He has authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone here who calls upon your name.”

But 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;

for I will show him how much he must suffer for the cause of my name.”

So Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road when you were coming, has sent me so that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he received his sight; he arose and was baptized;

and he ate and was strengthened. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.

Saul Preaches at Damascus

Right away he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying that he is the Son of God.

All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name? And he has come here in order to bring them bound to the chief priests.”

But Saul became more and more powerful, and he was causing distress among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

After many days, the Jews planned together to kill him.

But their plan became known to Saul. They watched the gates day and night in order to kill him.

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

Saul in Jerusalem

When he had come to Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

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

He met with them as they were coming in and going out of Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus

and debated with the Grecian Jews; but they kept trying to kill him.

When the brothers learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

So then, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church grew in numbers.

Now it came about that, as Peter went throughout the whole region, he came down also to the believers who lived in the town of Lydda.

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been in his bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” And right away he got up.

So everyone who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw the man and they turned to the Lord.

The Raising of Tabitha

(John 11:38–44)

Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated as “Dorcas.” This woman was full of good works and merciful deeds that she did for the poor.

It came about in those days that she fell sick and died; when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, begging him, “Come to us without delay.”

Peter arose and went with them. When he had arrived, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing him the coats and garments that Dorcas had made while she had been with them.

Peter put them all out of the room, knelt down, and prayed; then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Peter then gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he called the believers and the widows, he presented her alive to them.

This matter became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed on the Lord.

It happened that Peter stayed for many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.

(Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)

But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.

He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (a)

But (b) rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.

Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah (c) for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.

Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.

He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

Saul Preaches at Damascus

Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.

All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,

but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,

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

Saul in Jerusalem

When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

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

He was with them entering into

(d)

Jerusalem,

preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.(e) He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists,(f) but they were seeking to kill him.

When the brothers(g) knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.

All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

The Raising of Tabitha

(John 11:38–44)

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas.(h) This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.

In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men

(i)

to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

Footnotes

(a)9:5 TR adds “It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods.”

(b)9:6 TR omits “But”

(d)9:28 TR and NU add “and going out”

(e)9:29 TR and NU omit “Jesus” and reverse the order of verses 28 &29.

(f)9:29 The Hellenists were Hebrews who used Greek language and culture.

(g)9:30 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(h)9:36 “Dorcas” is Greek for “Gazelle.”

(i)9:38 Reading from NU, TR; MT omits “two men”