Chapter 9

But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, when to the high priest

and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to this Way, he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem.

And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him;

and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? "

And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou art persecuting. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad."

And he, trembling and amazed, said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do."

Now the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but seeing no one.

And Saul arose from the ground, but when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

And for three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank. Saul's Baptism

Now there was in Damascus a certain disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For behold, he is praying."

(And he saw a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands upon him that he might recover his sight.)

But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem.

And here too he has authority from the high priests to arrest all who invoke thy name."

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name among nations and kings and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands upon him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me---Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey---that thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

And straightway there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he recovered his sight, and arose, and was baptized.

And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul's Zeal Now for some days he joined the disciples in Damascus,

and straightway in the synagogues he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God.

And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this he who used to make havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name, and who has come here for the purpose of taking them in bonds to the chief priests? "

But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who were living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

But as time passed on the Jews made a plot to kill him.

But their plot became known to Saul. They were even guarding the gates both day and night in order to kill him;

but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Now on his arrival at Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he told them how on his journey he had seen the Lord, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had acted boldly in the name of Jesus.

And he moved freely among them in Jerusalem, acting boldly in the name of the Lord;

he also spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him.

When the brethren got to know this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. Peter Visits the Churches

Now throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria the Church was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and it was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass that Peter, while visiting all the saints, came to those living at Lydda.

And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who had kept his bed eight years, being a paralytic.

And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals thee; get up and make thy bed." And straightway he got up.

And all who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas); this woman had devoted herself to good works and acts of charity.

But it happened that at this time she fell ill and died; and they washed her, and laid her in an upper room.

And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Come on to us without delay."

And Peter arose and went with them, and on his arrival they took him to the upper room. And all the widows stood about him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks which Dorcas used to make for them.

But Peter, putting them all out, knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up.

Then Peter gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.

And it became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

And it came to pass that he stayed some time in Joppa at the house of one Simon, a tanner.