扫罗归主

扫罗继续用凶狠的话恐吓主的门徒。他去见大祭司, 要取得授权书到大马士革的各会堂搜捕信耶稣的人,无论男女,都要把他们押回耶路撒冷。

当他快到大马士革的时候,突然有一道光从天上射下来,四面照着他。 他倒在地上,听见有声音对他说:“扫罗!扫罗!你为什么迫害我?” 他说:“主啊,你是谁?”那声音说:“我就是你所迫害的耶稣。 起来!进城去,有人会告诉你该做的事。”

同行的人站在那里只听见声音,却看不见人,吓得张口结舌。 扫罗爬起来,睁大眼睛,却什么也看不见,同伴拉着他的手进了大马士革。 一连三天,扫罗什么也看不见,也不吃也不喝。

10 这时候,在大马士革有个门徒名叫亚拿尼亚,他在异象中听见主呼唤他的名字,就回答说:“主啊,我在这里。”

11 主说:“起来,到直街的犹大家去见一个来自大数、名叫扫罗的人,他正在向我祷告。 12 我让他在异象中看见一个名叫亚拿尼亚的人去他那里,把手按在他身上,使他恢复视力。”

13 亚拿尼亚回答说:“主啊!我听见许多人说他对耶路撒冷的信徒大加迫害。 14 他来这里是得到祭司长的授权,要拘捕所有求告你名的人。”

15 主对亚拿尼亚说:“你放心去吧!他是我拣选的器皿,要向外族人、君王和以色列人宣扬我的名。 16 我会让他知道他必为我的名而受许多的苦。”

17 亚拿尼亚去了,进了那家,就把手按在扫罗身上,说:“扫罗弟兄,在你来的路上向你显现的主耶稣派我来使你重见光明、被圣灵充满。” 18 顿时,扫罗的眼睛上有鳞片似的东西脱落,他立刻恢复了视力,便起来接受了洗礼。 19 他吃过东西之后,体力也恢复了。他和大马士革的门徒住了几天之后, 20 便到各会堂去宣讲:“耶稣是上帝的儿子。”

21 听的人都大吃一惊,说:“他不就是那在耶路撒冷迫害信徒的人吗?他到这里来不是要把大马士革的信徒押去见祭司长吗?”

22 但扫罗越发有能力,引经据典证明耶稣是基督,使大马士革的犹太人惊慌失措。

扫罗逃生

23 过了一段日子,犹太人图谋杀死扫罗。 24 他们昼夜在城门守候,伺机下手,但这阴谋被扫罗知道了。 25 他的门徒趁夜间用筐子把他从城墙上缒下去。

26 扫罗逃到耶路撒冷后,曾设法与当地的门徒联络,可是他们都怕他,不相信他是门徒。 27 只有巴拿巴接待他,带他去见使徒,向他们陈述扫罗如何在路上遇见主,主如何对他说话,他又如何勇敢地在大马士革奉耶稣的名传道。 28 于是,扫罗就在耶路撒冷与使徒一起出入来往,奉主的名放胆传道。 29 他常常跟那些讲希腊话的犹太人辩论,于是他们打算杀掉他。 30 弟兄姊妹知道这消息后,就把扫罗带到凯撒利亚,然后送他到大数去。

31 当时,犹太、加利利、撒玛利亚各地的教会都很平安,得到了坚固。信徒们非常敬畏主,又得到圣灵的安慰,人数越来越多。

彼得医治瘫子

32 彼得四处奔波,来到吕大探访那里的信徒, 33 遇见一个已经卧床八年、名叫以尼雅的瘫子。 34 彼得对他说:“以尼雅,耶稣基督已经医好你了,起来收拾你的垫子吧!”他立刻应声而起。 35 吕大和沙仑的居民看见他,都归向了主。

彼得使死人复活

36 在约帕有个乐善好施的女信徒名叫戴碧达,希腊话叫多加,意思是“羚羊”。 37 当时,她患病死了。有人将她的尸体洗干净后,停放在楼上。 38 吕大和约帕相距不远,门徒听说彼得在吕大,就派两个人赶去请他立刻来约帕。 39 彼得便随他们一同到了那里,有人领他上楼。众寡妇都站在彼得周围哭,并把多加生前缝制的内衣、外衣给他看。

40 彼得叫她们都出去,自己跪下祷告,然后转身对死者说:“戴碧达,起来!”她便睁开了眼睛,看见彼得,就坐了起来。 41 彼得伸手扶她起来后,叫那些在外面等候的门徒和寡妇进来,把活过来的多加交给他们。 42 这事传遍了整个约帕,许多人都信了主。 43 彼得继续留在约帕,在当地一个名叫西门的皮革匠家住了好些日子。

ο δε σαυλος ετι εμπνεων απειλης και φονου εις τους μαθητας του κυριου προσελθων τω αρχιερει

ητησατο παρ αυτου επιστολας εις δαμασκον προς τας συναγωγας οπως εαν τινας ευρη της οδου οντας ανδρας τε και γυναικας δεδεμενους αγαγη εις ιερουσαλημ

εν δε τω πορευεσθαι εγενετο αυτον εγγιζειν τη δαμασκω εξαιφνης τε αυτον περιηστραψεν φως εκ του ουρανου

και πεσων επι την γην ηκουσεν φωνην λεγουσαν αυτω σαουλ σαουλ τι με διωκεις

ειπεν δε τις ει κυριε ο δε εγω ειμι ιησους ον συ διωκεις

αλλα αναστηθι και εισελθε εις την πολιν και λαληθησεται σοι ο τι σε δει ποιειν

οι δε ανδρες οι συνοδευοντες αυτω ειστηκεισαν ενεοι ακουοντες μεν της φωνης μηδενα δε θεωρουντες

ηγερθη δε σαυλος απο της γης ανεωγμενων δε των οφθαλμων αυτου ουδεν εβλεπεν χειραγωγουντες δε αυτον εισηγαγον εις δαμασκον

και ην ημερας τρεις μη βλεπων και ουκ εφαγεν ουδε επιεν

10 ην δε τις μαθητης εν δαμασκω ονοματι ανανιας και ειπεν προς αυτον εν οραματι ο κυριος ανανια ο δε ειπεν ιδου εγω κυριε

11 ο δε κυριος προς αυτον αναστα πορευθητι επι την ρυμην την καλουμενην ευθειαν και ζητησον εν οικια ιουδα σαυλον ονοματι ταρσεα ιδου γαρ προσευχεται

12 και ειδεν ανδρα [εν οραματι] ανανιαν ονοματι εισελθοντα και επιθεντα αυτω [τας] χειρας οπως αναβλεψη

13 απεκριθη δε ανανιας κυριε ηκουσα απο πολλων περι του ανδρος τουτου οσα κακα τοις αγιοις σου εποιησεν εν ιερουσαλημ

14 και ωδε εχει εξουσιαν παρα των αρχιερεων δησαι παντας τους επικαλουμενους το ονομα σου

15 ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο κυριος πορευου οτι σκευος εκλογης εστιν μοι ουτος του βαστασαι το ονομα μου ενωπιον [των] εθνων τε και βασιλεων υιων τε ισραηλ

16 εγω γαρ υποδειξω αυτω οσα δει αυτον υπερ του ονοματος μου παθειν

17 απηλθεν δε ανανιας και εισηλθεν εις την οικιαν και επιθεις επ αυτον τας χειρας ειπεν σαουλ αδελφε ο κυριος απεσταλκεν με ιησους ο οφθεις σοι εν τη οδω η ηρχου οπως αναβλεψης και πλησθης πνευματος αγιου

18 και ευθεως απεπεσαν αυτου απο των οφθαλμων ως λεπιδες ανεβλεψεν τε και αναστας εβαπτισθη

19 και λαβων τροφην ενισχυθη εγενετο δε μετα των εν δαμασκω μαθητων ημερας τινας

20 και ευθεως εν ταις συναγωγαις εκηρυσσεν τον ιησουν οτι ουτος εστιν ο υιος του θεου

21 εξισταντο δε παντες οι ακουοντες και ελεγον ουχ ουτος εστιν ο πορθησας εν ιερουσαλημ τους επικαλουμενους το ονομα τουτο και ωδε εις τουτο εληλυθει ινα δεδεμενους αυτους αγαγη επι τους αρχιερεις

22 σαυλος δε μαλλον ενεδυναμουτο και συνεχυννεν ιουδαιους τους κατοικουντας εν δαμασκω συμβιβαζων οτι ουτος εστιν ο χριστος

23 ως δε επληρουντο ημεραι ικαναι συνεβουλευσαντο οι ιουδαιοι ανελειν αυτον

24 εγνωσθη δε τω σαυλω η επιβουλη αυτων παρετηρουντο δε και τας πυλας ημερας τε και νυκτος οπως αυτον ανελωσιν

25 λαβοντες δε οι μαθηται αυτου νυκτος δια του τειχους καθηκαν αυτον χαλασαντες εν σπυριδι

26 παραγενομενος δε εις ιερουσαλημ επειραζεν κολλασθαι τοις μαθηταις και παντες εφοβουντο αυτον μη πιστευοντες οτι εστιν μαθητης

27 βαρναβας δε επιλαβομενος αυτον ηγαγεν προς τους αποστολους και διηγησατο αυτοις πως εν τη οδω ειδεν τον κυριον και οτι ελαλησεν αυτω και πως εν δαμασκω επαρρησιασατο εν τω ονοματι ιησου

28 και ην μετ αυτων εισπορευομενος και εκπορευομενος εις ιερουσαλημ παρρησιαζομενος εν τω ονοματι του κυριου

29 ελαλει τε και συνεζητει προς τους ελληνιστας οι δε επεχειρουν ανελειν αυτον

30 επιγνοντες δε οι αδελφοι κατηγαγον αυτον εις καισαρειαν και εξαπεστειλαν αυτον εις ταρσον

31 η μεν ουν εκκλησια καθ ολης της ιουδαιας και γαλιλαιας και σαμαρειας ειχεν ειρηνην οικοδομουμενη και πορευομενη τω φοβω του κυριου και τη παρακλησει του αγιου πνευματος επληθυνετο

32 εγενετο δε πετρον διερχομενον δια παντων κατελθειν και προς τους αγιους τους κατοικουντας λυδδα

33 ευρεν δε εκει ανθρωπον τινα ονοματι αινεαν εξ ετων οκτω κατακειμενον επι κραβαττου ος ην παραλελυμενος

34 και ειπεν αυτω ο πετρος αινεα ιαται σε ιησους χριστος αναστηθι και στρωσον σεαυτω και ευθεως ανεστη

35 και ειδαν αυτον παντες οι κατοικουντες λυδδα και τον σαρωνα οιτινες επεστρεψαν επι τον κυριον

36 εν ιοππη δε τις ην μαθητρια ονοματι ταβιθα η διερμηνευομενη λεγεται δορκας αυτη ην πληρης εργων αγαθων και ελεημοσυνων ων εποιει

37 εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις ασθενησασαν αυτην αποθανειν λουσαντες δε εθηκαν εν υπερωω

38 εγγυς δε ουσης λυδδας τη ιοππη οι μαθηται ακουσαντες οτι πετρος εστιν εν αυτη απεστειλαν δυο ανδρας προς αυτον παρακαλουντες μη οκνησης διελθειν εως ημων

39 αναστας δε πετρος συνηλθεν αυτοις ον παραγενομενον ανηγαγον εις το υπερωον και παρεστησαν αυτω πασαι αι χηραι κλαιουσαι και επιδεικνυμεναι χιτωνας και ιματια οσα εποιει μετ αυτων ουσα η δορκας

40 εκβαλων δε εξω παντας ο πετρος και θεις τα γονατα προσηυξατο και επιστρεψας προς το σωμα ειπεν ταβιθα αναστηθι η δε ηνοιξεν τους οφθαλμους αυτης και ιδουσα τον πετρον ανεκαθισεν

41 δους δε αυτη χειρα ανεστησεν αυτην φωνησας δε τους αγιους και τας χηρας παρεστησεν αυτην ζωσαν

42 γνωστον δε εγενετο καθ ολης ιοππης και επιστευσαν πολλοι επι τον κυριον

43 εγενετο δε ημερας ικανας μειναι εν ιοππη παρα τινι σιμωνι βυρσει

The Conversion of Saul

(A)Now [a]Saul, still (B)breathing [b]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for (C)letters from him to (D)the synagogues at (E)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (F)the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he was traveling, it happened that when he was approaching Damascus, (G)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and (H)falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise up and enter the city, and (I)it will be told you what you must do.” And the men who traveled with him (J)stood speechless, (K)hearing the [c]voice but seeing no one. And Saul got up from the ground, and (L)though his eyes were open, he [d]could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, they brought him into (M)Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at (N)Damascus named (O)Ananias, and the Lord said to him in (P)a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from (Q)Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen [e]in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (R)lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (S)how much harm he did to (T)Your [f]saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he (U)has authority from the chief priests to bind all who (V)call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (W)he is a chosen [g]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before (X)the Gentiles and (Y)kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for (Z)I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And he (AA)laid his hands on him and said, “(AB)Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—that is Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—so that you may regain your sight and be (AC)filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he rose up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

Now (AD)for several days he was with (AE)the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus (AF)in the synagogues, [h]saying, “He is (AG)the Son of God.” 21 And all those hearing him continued to be astounded, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem (AH)destroyed those that (AI)called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this One is the [i]Christ.

23 And when (AJ)many days had elapsed, (AK)the Jews plotted together to put him to death, 24 but (AL)their plot became known to Saul. (AM)They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 (AN)And when he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples, [j]but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But (AO)Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and recounted to them how he had (AP)seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how (AQ)at Damascus he had (AR)spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them, [k]moving about freely in Jerusalem, (AS)speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the [l](AT)Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when (AU)the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to (AV)Caesarea and (AW)sent him away to (AX)Tarsus.

31 So (AY)the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria was having peace, being built up. And going on in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to multiply.

Peter Heals Aeneas

32 Now it happened that as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to (AZ)the [m]saints who lived at [n](BA)Lydda. 33 And there he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Rise up and make your bed.” Immediately he rose up. 35 And all who lived at [o](BB)Lydda and (BC)Sharon saw him, and they (BD)turned to the Lord.

Peter Raises Tabitha to Life

36 Now in (BE)Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated is called [p]Dorcas). This woman was full of good works and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened [q]at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an (BF)upper room. 38 Now since Lydda was near (BG)Joppa, (BH)the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, pleading with him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the (BI)upper room; and all the (BJ)widows stood beside him, crying and showing all the [r]tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter (BK)sent them all out and (BL)knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “(BM)Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. And calling (BN)the [s]saints and (BO)widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known all over (BP)Joppa, and (BQ)many believed in the Lord. 43 And it happened that he stayed many days in (BR)Joppa with (BS)a tanner named Simon.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:1 Later called Paul
  2. Acts 9:1 Lit threat
  3. Acts 9:7 Or sound
  4. Acts 9:8 Lit was seeing nothing
  5. Acts 9:12 Some early mss omit in a vision
  6. Acts 9:13 Or holy ones
  7. Acts 9:15 Or vessel
  8. Acts 9:20 Lit that
  9. Acts 9:22 Messiah
  10. Acts 9:26 Lit and
  11. Acts 9:28 Lit going in and going out
  12. Acts 9:29 Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
  13. Acts 9:32 Or holy ones
  14. Acts 9:32 OT: Lod
  15. Acts 9:35 OT: Lod
  16. Acts 9:36 Gr for Gazelle
  17. Acts 9:37 Lit in those days
  18. Acts 9:39 Or inner garments
  19. Acts 9:41 Or holy ones

Saul’s Conversion(A)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.(AB) 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(AD) 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.(AE)

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,(AF) 24 but Saul learned of their plan.(AG) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.(AH)

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(AI) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(AJ) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(AK) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(AL) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](AM) but they tried to kill him.(AN) 30 When the believers(AO) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(AP) and sent him off to Tarsus.(AQ)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(AR) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(AS)

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people(AT) who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.(AU) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon(AV) saw him and turned to the Lord.(AW)

36 In Joppa(AX) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good(AY) and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.(AZ) 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples(BA) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows(BB) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room;(BC) then he got down on his knees(BD) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”(BE) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.(BF) 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture