Acts 9

Worsley^{(i) 1} But Saul still breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, ² that if he should find any of this persuasion, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ And as he was on his journey, and came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven; ⁴ and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ⁵ And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou art persecuting: it is hard for thee to kick against the goads. ⁶ 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. ⁷ And the men that went along with him, stood astonished, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. ⁸ And Saul rose from the earth, but when he opened his eyes he could not see: so 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, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, and he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. ¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Strait, and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul, of Tarsus: ¹² for behold he is praying, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand upon him, that he might recover his sight. ¹³ And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much mischief he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: ¹⁴ and here too he hath authority from the chief priests to apprehend all that call upon thy name. ¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: ¹⁶ for I will shew him how great sufferings he must endure for my name. ¹⁷ And Ananias went away and came into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to thee on the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Spirit." ¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales; and he instantly recovered his sight, and arose and was baptized. ¹⁹ And when he had taken some nourishment, he was strengthened. Now Saul was with the disciples at Damascus for some time. ²⁰ And he immediately preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. ²¹ But all that heard him, were amazed, and said, Is not this he that persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on this name, and came hither for this end, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? ²² But Saul prevailed more and more, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, fully proving that this same Jesus is the Christ. ²³ And after a considerable time, the Jews conspired to kill him: ²⁴ but Saul was apprised of their design. And they watched the gates day and night, to make away with him: ²⁵ but the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall, in a basket. ²⁶ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took and 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 preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus: ²⁹ and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him: ³⁰ but when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. ³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had rest, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord; and through the consolation of the holy Spirit were multiplied. ³² And it came to pass that as Peter was going through all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. ³³ And there he found a man named Eneas, who had kept his bed eight years, with the palsy. ³⁴ And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus the Messiah, healeth thee. Arise, and make thy bed. And he rose up immediately. ³⁵ And all that dwelt at Lydda and in 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 in Greek Dorcas: and she was full of good works and alms-deeds. ³⁷ And it happened, about the same time, that she fell sick and died: and when they had washed her they laid her out in an upper chamber. ³⁸ And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there sent two men to him, intreating him that he would not delay to come to them. ³⁹ Then Peter arose, and went with them: and when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood round him weeping, and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made when she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter, putting them all out, kneeled down and prayed: and then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And giving her his hand he raised her up, and calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. ⁴² And it was soon known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. ⁴³ And he staid many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.