Acts 9–10

Saul’s Conversion on the Damascus Road

9But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and^* asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring them^* tied up^a to Jerusalem. ³Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! ⁶But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.”^{b 7}(Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, because they^* heard the voice but saw no one.) ⁸So Saul got up from the ground, but although^* his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹And he was unable to see^c for three days, and he did not eat or drink.

Ananias Sent to Saul

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named^d Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, here I am, Lord!” ¹¹And the Lord said to him, “Get up, go to the street called ‘Straight’ and in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul from Tarsus.^e For behold, he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named^f Ananias coming in and placing hands^g on him so that he may regain his sight.” ¹³But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, ¹⁴and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up^h all who call upon your name!” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentilesⁱ and kings and the sons of Israel. ¹⁶For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing 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 be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight and got up and^* was baptized, ¹⁹and after^* taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus several days.

Saul Proclaims Christ in Damascus

²⁰And immediately he began proclaiming^* Jesus in the synagogues: “This one is the Son of God!” ²¹And all who heard him^* were amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem on those who call upon this name, and had come here for this reason, that he could bring them tied up^j to the chief priests?” ²²But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by^* proving that this one is the Christ.^k

²³And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted to do away with him. ²⁴But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him. ²⁵But his disciples took him^* at night and^* let him down through the wall by^* lowering him^* in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶And when he^* arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they^* did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷But Barnabas took him and^* brought him^* to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸And he was going in and going out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹And he was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews,^l but they were trying to do away with him. ³⁰And when^* the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹Then the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened. And living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing in numbers.^*

Aeneas Healed

³²Now it happened that as^* Peter was traveling through all the places,^* he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. ³³And he found there a certain man named^m Aeneas who was paralyzed, who had been lying on a matⁿ for eight years. ³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed yourself!” And immediately he got up. ³⁵And all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, who all^* indeed turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Raised

³⁶Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple named^o Tabitha (which translated means “Dorcas”).^p She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.^{* 37}Now it happened that in those days after^* becoming sick, she died. And after^* washing her,^* they placed her in an upstairs room. ³⁸And because^* Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they^* heard that Peter was in Lydda,^q sent two men to him, urging, “Do not delay to come to us!” ³⁹So Peter got up and^* accompanied them. When he^* arrived, they brought him^* up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing him^* tunics and other clothing that Dorcas used to make while she^* was with them. ⁴⁰But Peter sent them all outside, and, falling to his^* knees, he prayed. And turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” And she opened her eyes, and when she^* saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand and^* raised her up. And he called the saints and the widows and^* presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³And it happened that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.^r

Cornelius Has a Vision

10Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named^a Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort, ²devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God continually.^{b 3}About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴And he stared at him and became terrified and^* said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God. ⁵And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter. ⁶This man is staying as a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner,^c whose house is by the sea.” ⁷And when the angel who spoke to him departed, he summoned two of the household slaves and a devout soldier from those who attended him, ⁸and after he^* had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter Has a Vision

⁹And the next day, as^* they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour. ¹⁰And he became hungry and wanted to eat. But while^* they were preparing the food,^* a trance came over him. ¹¹And he saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet coming down, being let down to the earth by its four corners, ¹²in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the sky. ¹³And a voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!” ¹⁴But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!” ¹⁵And the voice came again to him for the second time: “The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!” ¹⁶And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate. ¹⁸And they called out and^* asked if Simon who was also called Peter was staying there as a guest. ¹⁹And while^* Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, men^d are looking for you. ²⁰But get up, go down, and go with them—not hesitating at all, because I have sent them.” ²¹So Peter went down to the men and^* said, “Behold, I am he whom you are looking for! What is the reason for which you have come?” ²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man—and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews—was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.” ²³So he invited them in and^* entertained them as guests, and on the next day he got up and^* went away with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴And on the next day he entered into Caesarea.

Peter Visits Cornelius

Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and^* had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵So it happened that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his^* feet, and^* worshiped him.^{* 26}But Peter helped him up, saying, “Get up! I myself am also a man!” ²⁷And as he^* conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered. ²⁸And he said to them, “You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean. ²⁹Therefore—and without raising any objection—I came when I^* was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me.”

³⁰And Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour,^e the ninth, I was praying in my house. And behold, a man in shining clothing stood before me ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charitable deeds have been remembered before God. ³²Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner,^f by the sea. ³³Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come.^g So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord.”

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