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Acts 9 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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The Conversion of Saul

(Act 22:6–16; 26:12–18 )
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:1 - But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:2 - and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:3 - Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:4 - And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:5 - And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:6 - But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:7 - The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:8 - Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:9 - And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:10 - Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:11 - And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:12 - and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:13 - But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:14 - And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:15 - 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:16 - For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:17 - So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:18 - And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:19 - and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:20 - And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:21 - And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:22 - But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:23 - When many days had passed, the Jews[fn] plotted to kill him,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:24 - but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:25 - but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,[fn] lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:26 - And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:27 - But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:28 - So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:29 - And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[fn] But they were seeking to kill him.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:30 - And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:32 - Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:33 - There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:34 - And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:35 - And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:36 - Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[fn] She was full of good works and acts of charity.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:37 - In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:38 - Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:39 - So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[fn] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:40 - But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:41 - And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:42 - And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 9:43 - And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
ESV Footnotes
The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
Greek through the wall
That is, Greek-speaking Jews
The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle
Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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