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Acts 9

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, both men and women, he could bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he traveled and came near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5He said, “Who are you, Lord?” He answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank.

10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight. At Judas's house, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For look, he is praying, 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, because he is a chosen vessel for me, to carry my name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel. 16For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17Ananias went and entered the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling—so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking food, he regained his strength.

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.” 21All who heard were astonished and said, “Isn't this the man who ravaged those in Jerusalem who call on this name? And hadn't he come here for this very purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul grew stronger and confounded the Jews living in Damascus by demonstrating that Jesus is the Messiah.

23After many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24But Saul learned of their plot. They were also watching the gates day and night to kill him. 25But his disciples took him by night and lowered him through the wall, letting him down in a basket.

26When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles. He described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, how the Lord had spoken to him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in Jesus' name. 28So he was with them, going in and out in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the Lord's name. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31So the assembly throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was being built up. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it grew in number.

32As Peter traveled among them all, he also went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who had been lying on a mat for eight years; he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35All who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36In Joppa there was a woman disciple named Tabitha, which translated is Dorcas. She was full of good deeds and gifts to the poor. 37In those days she became ill and died. After washing her, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the appeal, “Do not delay coming to us.” 39Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing the tunics and cloaks Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40Peter sent everyone outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called the holy ones and the widows and presented her alive. 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with a tanner named Simon.

Translation notes 8

9:2 — The Way. A designation for the movement following Jesus, retaining the road/way image.

9:5–7 — Saul's encounter. The shorter Greek base does not contain the familiar expansion about kicking against the goads and Saul asking what to do. The goads saying occurs at 26:14. This account says the companions heard the voice; 22:9 says they did not hear the voice of the one speaking to Paul. Differences between the accounts are not silently rewritten.

9:12 — In a vision. These words belong to the base text, but important early witnesses omit them. The vision is still implied by the account.

9:13, 32, 41 — Holy ones. Members of the believing community, commonly called “saints,” rather than a special later category of officially recognized individuals.

9:15 — Chosen vessel. The Greek preserves a vessel or instrument image. “Sons of Israel” names Israel's people, including women.

9:25, 31 — His disciples; the assembly. These follow the Greek base. Other texts have “the disciples” and plural “assemblies.”

9:29 — Hellenists. Greek-speaking Jews in this Jerusalem setting; compare 6:1. The same Greek designation has a disputed scope at 11:20.

9:34–40 — Healing and Tabitha. “Make your bed” supplies the object of “spread for yourself.” Tabitha is an Aramaic name and Dorcas its Greek equivalent, both meaning “gazelle.” Peter's prayer and the woman's return to life recall Jesus' ministry without making the scenes identical.