Acts 9
New King James Version
The Damascus Road: Saul Converted(A)
9 Then (B)Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked (C)letters 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.
3 (D)As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, (E)why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So 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.”
7 And (F)the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then 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. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (G)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (H)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And 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.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (I)how much [b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all (J)who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (K)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before (L)Gentiles, (M)kings, and the (N)children[c] of Israel. 16 For (O)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (P)name’s sake.”
17 (Q)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (R)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [d]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (S)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. (T)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Saul Preaches Christ
20 Immediately he preached [e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, (U)“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?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, (V)and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul Escapes Death
23 Now after many days were past, (W)the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 (X)But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and (Y)let him down through the wall in a large basket.
Saul at Jerusalem
26 And (Z)when 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. 27 (AA)But 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, (AB)and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So (AC)he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the (AD)Hellenists,[f] (AE)but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
The Church Prospers
31 (AF)Then the [g]churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were (AG)edified.[h] And walking in the (AH)fear of the Lord and in the (AI)comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were (AJ)multiplied.
Aeneas Healed
32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went (AK)through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, (AL)Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and (AM)Sharon saw him and (AN)turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named [i]Tabitha, which is translated [j]Dorcas. This woman was full (AO)of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in (AP)an upper room. 38 And 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. 39 Then 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. 40 But Peter (AQ)put them all out, and (AR)knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he (AS)said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, (AT)and many believed on the Lord. 43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with (AU)Simon, a tanner.
Footnotes
- Acts 9:5 NU, M omit the rest of v. 5 and begin v. 6 with But arise and go
- Acts 9:13 bad things
- Acts 9:15 Lit. sons
- Acts 9:17 M omits Jesus
- Acts 9:20 NU Jesus
- Acts 9:29 Greek-speaking Jews
- Acts 9:31 NU church . . . was
- Acts 9:31 built up
- Acts 9:36 Lit., in Aram., Gazelle
- Acts 9:36 Lit., in Gr., Gazelle
Gevurot 9
Orthodox Jewish Bible
9 Now Sha’ul, still breathing a threat even of retzach (murder) keneged (against) the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu, having approached the Kohen Gadol,
2 Requested from him iggrot of reshus (authorization) to the shuls of Damascus, that if someone he should find being mishtatef (involved) in HaDerech [Hashem], both anashim and nashim, he may lead them bound to Yerushalayim. [Isa 17:1; Jer 49:23]
3 Now as he goes, it came about that he comes near Damascus, and suddenly shone around him an Ohr (Light) from Shomayim;
4 And he fell on the ground, and heard a kol (voice), saying to him, "Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting me?" [YESHAYAH 6:8]
5 And he said, "Who are you, Adoni?" And he said, "I am Yehoshua/Yeshua upon whom you bring redifah.
6 "But get up and enter into the city, and it shall be told to you what it is necessary for you to do." [Ezek 3:22]
7 And the anashim traveling with Rav Sha’ul had stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. [DANIEL 10:7]
8 And Rav Sha’ul got up from the ground, and, though his eyes were open, he was seeing nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was shloshah yamim not seeing and neither did he eat nor drink.
10 Now there was a certain talmid in Damascus, by the name Chananyah, and Moshiach Adoneinu spoke to him in a chazon (vision), saying, "Chananyah." And he said, "Hinei, I am here, Adoni."
11 And Moshiach Adoneinu said to him, "Get up and go to the rekhov (street) being called "Yashar" ("Straight") and seek in the bais of Yehudah an ish by name Sha’ul from Tarsus. For, hinei, he is davening,
12 "And Sha’ul has seen in a chazon (vision) an ish by the name Chananyah come in and place his hands upon him that he may see again."
13 And Chananyah answered, "Adoni, I heard from many about this man, how many ra’ot (evil things) he did to your Kadoshim in Yerushalayim.
14 "And here he has samchut (authority) from the Rashei Kohanim to bind all the ones davening b’Shem of you."
15 But Moshiach Adoneinu said to him, "Go, for this one is a keli nivchar (chosen vessel) of mine to carry Shmi before both Goyim and melachim (kings) and the Bnei Yisroel.
16 "For I will show him how much it is necessary for him to undergo yissurim (sufferings) on behalf of Shmi (my Name)."
17 And Chananyah departed and entered into the bais, and having placed his hands upon Rav Sha’ul, he said, "Ach b’Moshiach Sha’ul, [Moshiach, Malachi 3:1] HaAdon has sent me. I’m referring to Yehoshua, the one who appeared to you on the derech by which you were coming. He sent me that you may see again and may be filled with the Ruach Hakodesh."
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and Rav Sha’ul saw again, and, having got up, he submitted to Moshiach’s tevilah of teshuva.
19 And having received okhel (food), Rav Sha’ul regained strength. Now he was with the talmidim in Damascus several yamim.
20 And immediately in the shuls Rav Sha’ul was preaching Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, saying, "He is the Ben HaElohim."
21 And all the ones listening were astonished, and they were saying, "Is this not the one making havoc in Yerushalayim among the ones invoking this shem and was not his tachlis (purpose) in coming here to bind them over before the Rashei Hakohanim?"
22 But Rav Sha’ul even more was being strengthened and was confounding the unbelieving Yehudim dwelling in Damascus, by proving that this Yehoshua is the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
23 But when yamim rabbim were completed, the ones of the Yehudim who were unbelieving plotted to kill him.
24 But the mezimma (evil design, intrigue) of their kesher (plot) became known to Rav Sha’ul. And they were also watching the she’arim (gates) both yomam valailah that they might kill him,
25 but Moshiach’s talmidim had taken him b’lailah and they let him down through an opening in the wall, having lowered him in a large basket. [SHMUEL ALEF 19:12]
26 And having arrived in Yerushalayim, Rav Sha’ul was trying to associate with the Moshiach’s talmidim, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is a talmid.
27 But Bar-Nabba, having taken hold of him, brought him to Moshiach’s Shluchim and told them how on the derech he saw Moshiach Adoneinu, who had spoken to Rav Sha’ul, and how in Damascus Rav Sha’ul spoke with ometz lev (boldness) b’Shem Yehoshua.
28 And Rav Sha’ul was with them, going in and coming out in Yerushalayim, speaking boldly b’Shem Moshiach Adoneinu.
29 And Rav Sha’ul was speaking and debating keneged (against) the Greekspeaking Yehudim; but they were attempting to kill him.
30 But having learned of this, the Achim b’Moshiach brought Rav Sha’ul down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31 Then Moshiach’s Kehillah throughout all of Yehudah and the Galil and Shomron had shalom and was increasing, being built up, and going on in the yir’at Shomayim and in the yir’at Moshiach Adoneinu and beNechamat HaRuach Hakodesh.
32 Now it came about that Kefa, passing through all the parts of Eretz Yisrael, came down also to Moshiach’s kadoshim dwelling in Lud.
33 And there Kefa found a certain ish by the name Aeneas who had been bedridden shmoneh shanim, for he was paralyzed.
34 And Kefa said to him, "Aeneas, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua make you whole. Get up and make your bed!" And immediately he got up.
35 And everyone dwelling in Lud and Sharon saw him, and they turned to Adoneinu. [MELACHIM ALEF 5:16; 27:29; 2:1; YESHAYAH 33:9; 35:2;65:10]
36 Now in Yafo there was a certain talmidah by the name Tavitha, which, being translated, means "gazelle." This one was abounding in ma’asim tovim and in giving tzedakah, which she was always doing. [YEHOSHUA 19:46; MELACHIM BAIS 2:16; EZRA 3:7]
37 And it came about in yamim hahem that this one, having become ill, passed away. When the women had washed her body, they laid it in the aliyyah.
38 And since Lud was near to Yafo, Moshiach’s talmidim, having heard that Kefa was there, sent shnei anashim to him, summoning Kefa that he not delay in coming to them.
39 Kefa, getting up, went with them. And when he arrived, they brought him up into the aliyyah (upper story room), and all the almanot stood beside him, weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Tavitha made while she was with them.
40 But Kefa, having put everyone outside, and having fallen down, davened. And when he turned to the nifteret (deceased), he said, "Tavitha, get up!" And she opened her eynayim and, having seen Kefa, she sat up.
41 And having given his hand to her, he made her to stand up alive again; and, having called the Moshiach’s Kadoshim and the almanot, Kefa presented her lebedik (alive) before them.
42 It became known throughout all Yafo, and rabbim (many) had emunah in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu.
43 And it came about that Kefa remained in Yafo yamim rabbim with a certain Shimon, a tanner.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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