Acts 9–10

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

9Then ^aSaul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and asked ^bletters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

^3cAs he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, ^dwhy are you persecuting Me?”

⁵And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

⁶So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷And ^ethe men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus ^fnamed Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

¹¹So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul ^gof Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹²And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

¹³Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^hhow much ²harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all ⁱwho call on Your name.”

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^jhe is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before ^kGentiles, ^lkings, and the ^mchildren ³of Israel. ¹⁶For ⁿI will show him how many things he must suffer for My ^oname’s sake.”

^17pAnd Ananias went his way and entered the house; and ^qlaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord ⁴Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and ^rbe filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

¹⁹So when he had received food, he was strengthened. ^sThen Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

²⁰Immediately he preached ⁵the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

²¹Then all who heard were amazed, and said, ^t“Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

²²But Saul increased all the more in strength, ^uand confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Saul Escapes Death

²³Now after many days were past, ^vthe Jews plotted to kill him. ^24wBut their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. ²⁵Then the disciples took him by night and ^xlet him down through the wall in a large basket.

Saul at Jerusalem

²⁶And ^ywhen Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. ^27zBut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, ^aand how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁸So ^bhe was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. ²⁹And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the ^cHellenists, ^6dbut they attempted to kill him. ³⁰When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

The Church Prospers

^31eThen the ⁷churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were ^fedified. ⁸And walking in the ^gfear of the Lord and in the ^hcomfort of the Holy Spirit, they were ⁱmultiplied.

Aeneas Healed

³²Now it came to pass, as Peter went ^jthrough all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. ³³There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. ³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^kJesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. ³⁵So all who dwelt at Lydda and ^lSharon saw him and ^mturned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶At Joppa there was a certain disciple named ⁹Tabitha, which is translated ¹Dorcas. This woman was full ⁿof good works and charitable deeds which she did. ³⁷But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in ^oan upper room. ³⁸And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. ³⁹Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰But Peter ^pput them all out, and ^qknelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he ^rsaid, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa, ^sand many believed on the Lord. ⁴³So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with ^tSimon, a tanner.

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10There was a certain man in ^aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ¹Regiment, ^2ba devout man and one who ^cfeared God with all his household, who gave ²alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³About ³the ninth hour of the day ^dhe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵Now ^esend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶He is lodging with ^fSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^gHe ⁴will tell you what you must do.” ⁷And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, ^hPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about ⁵the sixth hour. ¹⁰Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹and ⁱsaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! ^jFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ^k“What God has ⁶cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷Now while Peter ⁷wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹While Peter thought about the vision, ^lthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ^20mArise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹Then Peter went down to the men ⁸who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²²And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ⁿhas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^oand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^p“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸Then he said to them, “You know how ^qunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But ^rGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

³⁰So Cornelius said, ⁹“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ^sa man stood before me ^tin bright clothing, ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, ^uyour prayer has been heard, and ^vyour ¹alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ²When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ^w“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But ^xin every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is ^yaccepted by Him. ³⁶The word which God sent to the ³children of…