Acts 9

JMNT^{(i) 1} Now Saul, still continuously inhaling and breathing (or: in-spiriting and blowing [out]; animated with the spirit of) threatening and murder (or: slaughter) into the midst of the Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] disciples (or: students; learners), after going to the head (chief; ranking) priest, ² requested from him letters [to take] into Damascus – to the synagogues – so that if he should be finding anyone being [a part] of (or: belonging to) the Way (or: the Path; the Road), he could lead [them] – both men and women – bound, into Jerusalem. ³ Now it happened, during [the occasion for] him to be progressively traveling [and] to be nearing Damascus, that with unexpected suddenness a light from out of the midst of the atmosphere (or: sky; heaven) flashed around him as lightning, ⁴ and having fallen upon the ground, he heard a Voice (or: sound) repeatedly saying to him, "Saul... Saul... Why do you continue pursuing and persecuting Me?" ⁵ So he said, "Who are You, Lord (or: Sir; Master)?" Now He replied, "I, Myself, am Jesus... Whom you continue pursuing and persecuting! ⁶ "Nevertheless, at once stand up and then enter into the city. Then it will proceed being spoken to you that which it continues binding and necessary for you to continue doing." ⁷ Now the adult men who were presently accompanying him on the journey had stood speechless and continued standing dumbfounded – while hearing the Voice (or: sound), and yet still, as spectators, gazing at not even one person (or: yet not viewing anyone)! ⁸ But then Saul got up from the ground, and yet with his eyes having been opened up, and continuing open, he was seeing nothing! So they led him on into Damascus, ⁹ and he was three days still not seeing. He also neither ate nor drank. ¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple (student; apprentice) in Damascus named Ananias, and within a vision the Lord [= Christ] said to him, "Ananias!" So he said, "Look, I [am here], O Lord!" ¹¹ So then the Lord [said] to him, "At once get up and go on your way upon the alley (or: narrow street) being normally called 'Straight,' and look for (seek; try to find) within [the] house of Judah (or: Judas) a person from Tarsus named Saul, for you see, look and consider! – he is presently thinking with a view toward having goodness, ease and well-being (or: continuously praying), ¹² "and within a vision (the effect of something seen) he saw an adult man named Ananias coming in and putting [his] hands upon him so that he can look up, and see again!" ¹³ But Ananias discerningly answered, "O Lord! I hear (or: heard) from many people about this adult man... how many vile and bad (worthless and evil; ugly and malicious) things he did to Your set-apart folks (Your saints) in Jerusalem! ¹⁴ "And here in this place he is presently having (or: holding) authority from the chief (head; ranking) priests to bind all those habitually calling upon Your Name!" ¹⁵ Yet the Lord [= Christ] said to him, "Be presently going (or: Go, and continue on your way), because this one is (or: exists being) a vessel of choice to Me (or: a picked our and chosen instrument for Me) to lift up and carry My Name before (in the sight and presence of) the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; Gentiles; non-Israelites) – as well as [before] kings and [the] sons (= people) of Israel. ¹⁶ "For you see, I Myself will proceed underlining and pointing out (or: plainly showing) to him how many things it continues being binding and necessary for him to experience and be suffering – over [the situation of] (or: for; on behalf of) My Name." ¹⁷ So Ananias went off and entered into the house, and after placing [his] hands upon him, he said, "O Brother Saul! The Lord – Jesus, the One being seen by you on the road in which you were coming – has sent me with a mission so that you can look up and see again, and then you can be filled with [the] set-apart Breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit; a consecrated attitude)!" ¹⁸ And immediately there fell off from his eyes [something] like scales (or: hulls; shells; rinds; incrustations; [Greek lepris; note: lepra is the word: leprosy; lepros is a leper]). And so he looked up and could see again (or: recovered his sight). Next, after standing up, he was immersed (or: baptized). Later on, upon receiving food (or: nourishment), he was inwardly strengthened and invigorated. ¹⁹ Now he came to be (= spent some time) with the disciples in Damascus [for] some (or: certain; [p45 reads: enough]) days, ²⁰ then straightway (at once) began publicly proclaiming Jesus within the synagogues – continuously heralding that this Man is (exists being) God's Son (or: the Son which has the character and qualities of, and whose origin is, God)! ²¹ Yet all the folks presently listening and hearing [him] continued amazed and astonished (literally: standing out of themselves), and were one after another saying, "Is not this man the person [who] in Jerusalem was laying waste (devastating; ravaging; trying to kill) the people habitually calling upon this Name? And now he has come here, into this place (or: unto this purpose), so that after [their] having been bound, he could lead them on to the head (chief; ranking) priests!" ²² But Saul kept on being more exceedingly empowered and was progressively given inner abilities, and so he kept on pouring [thoughts; ideas; Scriptures] together – [to the point that] he was creating an uproar among, and was confounding, the Jews presently living and permanently dwelling in Damascus – progressively causing [his arguments] to stand together, thus proving conclusively that this Man is (exists being) the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah; [note: = "God's Son," of vs. 20, above]). ²³ Now as a considerable number of days were, one after another, being fulfilled (or: = coming to a close; thus: = quite some time later) the Jews consulted together to assassinate him (to "take him up"). However, their plot became known to Saul. ²⁴ Now they also kept on closely watching and covertly guarding the gates both day and night so that they could capture and assassinate him. ²⁵ So his students (disciples), by night taking [him] through [an opening or window in] the wall, let him down by gradually lowering [him] in a hamper (possibly: a basket made of braided ropes). ²⁶ Now later, coming to be present [after entering] into Jerusalem, he kept on trying to be closely joined to the disciples (students; apprentices), and yet everyone continued fearing him, still not trusting or believing that he is now a disciple. ²⁷ So Barnabas, taking on [the problem] (or: taking him on [as a friend]; or: taking him by the hand), led him to the sent-forth folks (the emissaries) and then he [i.e., Paul] fully related to them how he saw the Lord on the road, and that He spoke to him (or: he spoke to Him) and how in Damascus he spoke in the Name of Jesus with the right of complete freedom from constraint, and with all boldness being publicly open and frank. ²⁸ And so he continued being with them, going his way into Jerusalem, as well as traveling out. ²⁹ Repeatedly speaking in the Name of the Lord with the right of complete freedom from constraint, and with all boldness being publicly open and frank, he continued both speaking and making joint-deliberations to the Hellenists (the Jews who spoke Greek or had adopted the Greek culture, or both). Yet these folks began taking in hand to assassinate him. ³⁰ So, upon coming to be personally aware and to accurately know [of this], the brothers led him down into Caesarea, and then sent him forth with a mission into Tarsus. ³¹ So then the called-out community down through [the] whole of Judea, Galilee and Samaria continued having peace (or: began possessing unbroken tranquility [= shalom]), progressively being built as a house and continuously edified, as well as habitually going their way, in and by the fear of the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]. And so, in and by the comforting and encouraging relief and assistance of the set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit and Sacred Attitude), it continued being multiplied (or: was progressively increased and made full). ³² Now while Peter continued going through all [the territories], it happened [for him] to go down also to the set-apart folks (the saints) presently inhabiting (or: permanently settled in) Lydda (or: Lud). ³³ Now there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who was one having been paralyzed, continuously lying down upon a cot (or: pallet; = bed-ridden) for eight years. ³⁴ So then Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) is presently healing (or: has healed) you. At once stand up (or: arise; get up) and spread (= make up) [your bed] by yourself!" And so he immediately got up (arose; stood up). ³⁵ Later all the folks presently inhabiting (residing in) Lydda and the [plain of] Sharon saw him, which folks [also] turned back upon (= returned their lives to having a focus on) the Lord [Christ or Yahweh]. ³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple named Tabitha – which, being translated, is normally called Dorcas (= Gazelle). She was full of good works and noble, virtuous acts – as well as deeds of mercy and gifts of compassion – which she was habitually doing. ³⁷ But in those days, after becoming weak and ill, she happened to die. So, upon washing (bathing) [her], they placed her in the upper room (or: story; chamber). ³⁸ Now with Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples – upon hearing that Peter was in [Lydda] – sent off two adult men to him, calling [him] to their side for help, urging, "You should not delay or be slow to pass through to us (or: hesitate to come through as far as us; = include us in your travels, and don't delay)!" ³⁹ So after arising, Peter went with them, whom – upon [his] arriving – they led up into the upper room (or: the upstairs chamber). Then all the widows presented [themselves] to him and stood by, weeping and exhibiting tunics and outer garments (= dresses and coats) [and] whatever Dorcas used to make [while] still being with them. ⁴⁰ But after causing everyone to be put forth outside and then kneeling down, Peter prayed (thought and focused toward well-being). Next, turning around and facing toward the body, he said, "Tabitha! Get up (or: Stand up; Arise)!" So she opened up her eyes, and, seeing Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And so, giving her a hand, he raised her up (or: helped her stand up). And now, after summoning the set-apart folks (the saints; the holy people) and the widows, he stood her alongside (or: presented her), now living. ⁴² So it came to be known down through [the] whole of Joppa, and many folks placed trust upon (or: believed and had faith on) the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]. ⁴³ Now it turned out [for] him to remain and dwell in Joppa – alongside of a certain Simon, a tanner – for a considerable number of days.