Acts 9

Living_Oracles^{(i) 1} But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, ² and petitioned for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus; that, if he found any of that way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ And as he was proceedings on his journey, and was come near to Damascus, on a sudden, a light from heaven shone around him; ⁴ and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? ⁵ And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute: ⁶ but arise, and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do. ⁷ And the men who traveled with him, stood astonished; hearing, indeed, the voice, but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the earth; and, though his eyes were open, he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. ¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, whose name was Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, whose name is Saul; for, behold, he is praying to me; ¹² and he has seen in a vision, a man whose name is Ananias, coming in and laying his hand upon him, that he might recover his sight. ¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many concerning this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; ¹⁴ and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name. ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, Go your way; for this man is to me a chosen vessel, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the children of Israel: ¹⁶ for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name. ¹⁷ Then Ananias went, and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on the way, as you came, has sent me; that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales; and he recovered his sight, and arose, and was immersed: ¹⁹ and having received food, he was strengthened, and for several days remained with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. ²¹ And all that heard him were astonished, and said, Is not this he who, in Jerusalem, spread desolation among them who called on his name; and came hither on purpose to carry such bound to the chief priests? ²² But Saul became stronger, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, evincing that this is the Messiah. ²³ And, after many days, the Jews conspired to kill him: ²⁴ but their design was made known to Saul; and they watched the gates, day and night, to murder him. ²⁵ But the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. ²⁶ And when he was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples; but they feared him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas, taking him, brought him to the Apostles, and related to 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; and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. ²⁹ And he spoke, and disputed with the Hellenists; but they attempted to kill him: ³⁰ and the brethren, being informed of it, conducted him to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. ³¹ Then the congregations though all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, being edified, had rest; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the admonition of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied. ³² Now it came to pass, that Peter, making a tour through all the congregations, came also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. ³³ And he found there a certain man, whose name was Eneas, who has a palsy, and had kept his bed eight years. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, Eneas, Jesus, the Messiah, heals you; arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately. ³⁵ And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. ³⁶ And there was at Joppa, a certain female disciple, named Tabitha, who, by interpretation, is called Dorcas; and she was full of good works, and alm-deeds, which she did. ³⁷ And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. ³⁸ And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him that he would not delay to come to them. ³⁹ And Peter arose, and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping; and showing the coats and mantles, which Dorcas made, while she was with them. ⁴⁰ And Peter putting them all out, kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up. ⁴¹ And giving her his hand, he raised her up; and having called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² And this was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And he continued many days at Joppa, in the house of one Simon, a tanner.