Acts

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 9 New English Translation

   The Conversion of Saul
   1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the LORD's disciples, went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 5 So he said, "Who are you, LORD?" He replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! 6 But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do." 7 (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one. ) 8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.
   10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The LORD said to him in a vision, "Ananias, " and he replied, "Here I am, LORD." 11 Then the LORD told him, "Get up and go to the street called 'Straight, ' and at Judas' house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again." 13 But Ananias replied, "LORD, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!" 15 But the LORD said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the LORD Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, his strength returned. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This man is the Son of God." 21 All who heard him were amazed and were saying, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
   Saul's Escape from Damascus
   23 Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plot against him. They were also watching the city gates day and night so that they could kill him. 25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a basket.
   Saul Returns to Jerusalem
   26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the LORD on the road, that the LORD had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was staying with them, associating openly with them in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the LORD. 29 He was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him. 30 When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
   31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the LORD and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.
   Peter Heals Aeneas
   32 Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33 He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed!" And immediately he got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the LORD.
   Peter Raises Dorcas
   36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room. 38 Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Come to us without delay." 39 So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the LORD. 43 So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.

King James Version

   1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
   2 And 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.
   3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
   4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
   5 And 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.
   6 And 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.
   7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
   8 And 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.
   9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
   10 ¶ And 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.
   11 And 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,
   12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
   13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
   14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
   15 But 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:
   16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
   17 And 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.
   18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
   19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
   20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
   21 But 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?
   22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
   23 ¶ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
   24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
   25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
   26 And 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.
   27 But 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.
   28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
   29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
   30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
   31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea 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.
   32 ¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
   33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
   34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
   35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
   36 ¶ Now 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.
   37 And 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.
   38 And 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.
   39 Then 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.
   40 But 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.
   41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
   42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
   43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.