The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 9 -

(Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)

And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the LORD, having gone to the chief priest,

asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he may find any being of The Way, both men and women, he may bring them bound to Jerusalem.

And in the going, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly there shone around him a light from Heaven,

and having fallen on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the LORD said, “I am Jesus whom you persecute; [[hard for you to kick at the goads”;

trembling also, and astonished, he said, “Lord, what do You wish me to do?” And the LORD [said] to him,]] “Arise, and enter into the city, and it will be told [to] you what you must do.”

And the men who are journeying with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice but seeing no one,

and Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes having been opened, he beheld no one, and leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus,

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

Ananias Baptizes Saul

And there was a certain disciple in Damascus, by name Ananias, and the LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias”; and he said, “Behold me, Lord”;

and the LORD [says] to him, “Having risen, go on to the street that is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, [one] by name Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prays,

and he saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and putting a hand on him, that he may see again.”

And Ananias answered, “LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he did to Your holy ones in Jerusalem,

and here he has authority from the chief priests, to bind all those calling on Your Name.”

And the LORD said to him, “Go, because this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to carry My Name before nations and kings—also the sons of Israel;

for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name.”

And Ananias went away, and entered into the house, and having put on him [his] hands, said, “Saul, brother, the LORD has sent me—Jesus who appeared to you in the way in which you were coming—that you may see again, and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, he also saw again instantly, and having risen, was immersed,

and having received nourishment, was strengthened, and Saul was with the disciples in Damascus certain days,

Saul Preaches at Damascus

and immediately he was preaching the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

And all those hearing were amazed and said, “Is this not he who laid waste in Jerusalem those calling on this Name, and here to this intent had come, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

And Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him,

and their counsel against [him] was known to Saul; they were also watching the gates both day and night, that they may kill him,

and the disciples having taken him, by night let him down by the wall, letting down in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

And Saul, having come to Jerusalem, tried to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple,

and Barnabas having taken him, brought [him] to the apostles, and declared to them how he saw the LORD in the way, and that He spoke to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the Name of Jesus.

And he was with them, coming in and going out in Jerusalem,

and speaking boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus; he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill him,

and the brothers having known, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and going on in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

And it came to pass that Peter, passing throughout all [quarters], also came down to the holy ones who were dwelling at Lydda,

and he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name—for eight years laid on a pallet—who was paralytic,

and Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you; arise and spread for yourself”; and immediately he rose,

and all those dwelling at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the LORD.

The Raising of Tabitha

(John 11:38–44)

And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha (which interpreted, is called Dorcas); this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;

and it came to pass in those days she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, they laid her in an upper chamber,

and Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that [place], sent two men to him, calling on him not to delay to come through to them.

And Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making while she was with them.

And Peter having put them all forth outside, having bowed the knees, prayed, and having turned to the body, said, “Tabitha, arise”; and she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up,

and having given her [his] hand, he lifted her up, and having called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive,

and it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the LORD;

and it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, 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”