Saul's conversion
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias. Yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, Go. This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
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.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied.
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.
Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.
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.
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
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.
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias. Yes, Lord, he answered.
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.
The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
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,
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said to Ananias, Go. This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
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:
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
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.
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised,
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Saul preaches and escapes
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests? Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
All those who heard him were astonished and asked, Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?
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?
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
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.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
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.
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
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.
Peter heals Aeneas; Tabitha raised
As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralysed. Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became ill and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, Please come at once. Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda.
And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralysed.
And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up.
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
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.
About that time she became ill and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
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.
Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, Please come at once.
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.
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
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.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
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.
He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.