Acts 9:1-20

Williams^{(i) 1} Now Saul, as he was still breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to The Way he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. ³ As he traveled on he finally approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He dropped to the ground; then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" ⁵ He asked, "Who are you, sir?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ⁶ But get up and go into the city, and there it will be told you what you ought to do." ⁷ His fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. ⁸ Then Saul got up off the ground, but he could not see anything, although his eyes were wide open. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus, ⁹ and for three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink anything. ¹⁰ Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord, I am here." ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for one named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is now praying there. ¹² He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, to restore his sight." ¹³ But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell of this man, especially the great sufferings he has brought on your people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon your name." ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to the heathen and their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. ¹⁶ For I am going to show him how great are the sufferings he must endure for my name's sake." ¹⁷ So Ananias left and went to that house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said, "Saul, my. brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming here, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ And all at once something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples at Damascus, ²⁰ and at once he began to preach in their synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.