9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats¹ to murder² the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest 9:2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way,³ either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners⁴ to Jerusalem.⁵ 9:3 As he was going along, approaching⁶ Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed⁷ around him. 9:4 He⁸ fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul,⁹ why are you persecuting me?”¹⁰ 9:5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 9:6 But stand up¹¹ and enter the city and you will be told¹² what you must do.” 9:7 (Now the men¹³ who were traveling with him stood there speechless,¹⁴ because they heard the voice but saw no one.)¹⁵ 9:8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open,¹⁶ he could see nothing.¹⁷ Leading him by the hand, his companions¹⁸ brought him into Damascus. 9:9 For¹⁹ three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.²⁰

9:10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The²¹ Lord²² said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, Lord.” 9:11 Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’²³ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, 9:12 and he has seen in a vision²⁴ a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” 9:13 But Ananias replied,²⁵ “Lord, I have heard from many people²⁶ about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison²⁷ all who call on your name.”²⁸ 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument²⁹ to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.³⁰ 9:16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”³¹ 9:17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed³² his hands on Saul³³ and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here,³⁴ has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”³⁵ 9:18 Immediately³⁶ something like scales³⁷ fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He³⁸ got up and was baptized,9:19 and after taking some food, his strength came back.

For several days³⁹ he was with the disciples in Damascus, 9:20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This man is the Son of God.”⁴⁰ 9:21 All⁴¹ who heard him were amazed and were saying, “Is this not⁴² the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging⁴³ those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners⁴⁴ to the chief priests?” 9:22 But Saul became more and more capable,⁴⁵ and was causing consternation⁴⁶ among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving⁴⁷ that Jesus⁴⁸ is the Christ.⁴⁹

9:23Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted⁵⁰ together to kill him, 9:24 but Saul learned of their plot against him.⁵¹ They were also watching⁵² the city gates⁵³ day and night so that they could kill him. 9:25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening⁵⁴ in the wall by lowering him in a basket.⁵⁵

9:26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate⁵⁶ with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe⁵⁷ that he was a disciple. 9:27 But Barnabas took⁵⁸ Saul,⁵⁹ brought⁶⁰ him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that⁶¹ the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly⁶² in the name of Jesus. 9:28 So he was staying with them, associating openly with them⁶³ in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 9:29 He was speaking and debating⁶⁴ with the Greek-speaking Jews,⁶⁵ but they were trying to kill him. 9:30 When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea⁶⁶ and sent him away to Tarsus.

9:31 Then⁶⁷ the church throughout Judea, Galilee,⁶⁸ and Samaria experienced⁶⁹ peace and thus was strengthened.⁷⁰ Living⁷¹ in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

9:32 Now⁷² as Peter was traveling around from place to place,⁷³ he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.⁷⁴ 9:33 He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a pallet for eight years because⁷⁵ he was paralyzed. 9:34 Peter⁷⁶ said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ⁷⁷ heals you. Get up and make your own bed!”⁷⁸ And immediately he got up. 9:35 All⁷⁹ those who lived in Lydda⁸⁰ and Sharon⁸¹ saw him, and they⁸² turned⁸³ to the Lord.

9:36 Now in Joppa⁸⁴ there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means⁸⁵ Dorcas).⁸⁶ She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.⁸⁷ 9:37 At that time⁸⁸ she became sick⁸⁹ and died. When they had washed⁹⁰ her body,⁹¹ they placed it in an upstairs room. 9:38 Because Lydda⁹² 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.”⁹³ 9:39 So Peter got up and went with them, and⁹⁴ when he arrived⁹⁵ they brought him to the upper room. All⁹⁶ the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him⁹⁷ the tunics⁹⁸ and other clothing⁹⁹ Dorcas used to make¹⁰⁰ while she was with them. 9:40 But Peter sent them all outside,¹⁰¹ knelt down,¹⁰² and prayed. Turning¹⁰³ to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.¹⁰⁴ 9:41 He gave¹⁰⁵ her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called¹⁰⁶ the saints and widows and presented her alive. 9:42 This became known throughout all¹⁰⁷ Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.¹⁰⁸ 9:43 So¹⁰⁹ Peter¹¹⁰ stayed many days in Joppa with a man named¹¹¹ Simon, a tanner.¹¹²