Acts 9:1–22

The Conversion of Saul

9But Saul, ^bstill ^cbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^dthe high priest ²and asked him for letters ^eto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^fthe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ^3gNow as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ^hme?” ⁵And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, ^hwhom you are persecuting. ⁶But ⁱrise and enter the city, and you will be told ^jwhat you are to do.” ^7kThe men who were traveling with him stood speechless, ^lhearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, ^mhe saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰Now there was a disciple at Damascus named ⁿAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, ^o“Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man ^pof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^qlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^rhow much evil he has done to ^syour ^tsaints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from ^uthe chief priests to bind all who ^vcall on your name.” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^whe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^xbefore the Gentiles and ^ykings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶For ^zI will show him how much ^ahe must suffer ^bfor the sake of my name.” ¹⁷So ^cAnanias departed and entered the house. And ^dlaying 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 ^ebe filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and ^fhe regained his sight. Then ^ghe rose and was baptized; ¹⁹and ^htaking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ⁱsome days he was with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ^j“He is the Son of God.” ²¹And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who ^kmade havoc ^lin 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?” ²²But Saul ^mincreased all the more in strength, and ⁿconfounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ^othat Jesus was the Christ.