Acts 9-11

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.

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in ^(AV)Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ^[k]Regiment, ^2 (AW)a devout man and one who ^(AX)feared God with all his household, who gave ^[l]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About ^[m]the ninth hour of the day ^(AY)he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴ And 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. ⁵ Now ^(AZ)send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with ^(BA)Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^(BB)He^[n] will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And 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. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

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

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

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

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷ Now while Peter ^[q]wondered 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. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

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

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

²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ^(BI)has 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.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^(BJ)and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

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

³⁰ So Cornelius said, ^[s]“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ^(BN)a man stood before me ^(BO)in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, ^(BP)your prayer has been heard, and ^(BQ)your ^[t]alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ^[u]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So 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

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ^(BR)“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But ^(BS)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is ^(BT)accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which God sent to the ^[v]children of Israel, ^(BU)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—^(BV)He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and ^(BW)began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how ^(BX)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who ^(BY)went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, ^(BZ)for God was with Him. ³⁹ And we are ^(CA)witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom ^[w]they ^(CB)killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him ^(CC)God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ^41 (CD)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us ^(CE)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And ^(CF)He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify ^(CG)that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge ^(CH)of the living and the dead. ^43 (CI)To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, ^(CJ)whoever believes in Him will receive ^(CK)remission^[x] of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(CL)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ^45 (CM)And ^[y]those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, ^(CN)because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ^(CO)just as we have?” ^48 (CP)And he commanded them to be baptized ^(CQ)in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter Defends God’s Grace

11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^(CR)those of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, ^(CS)“You went in to uncircumcised men ^(CT)and ate with them!”

⁴ But Peter explained it to them ^(CU)in order from the beginning, saying: ^5 (CV)“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² Then ^(CW)the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover ^(CX)these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ^13 (CY)And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, ^(CZ)as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ^(DA)‘John indeed baptized with water, but ^(DB)you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ^17 (DC)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(DD)who was I that I could withstand God?”

¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ^(DE)“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

^19 (DF)Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to ^(DG)the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And ^(DH)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and ^(DI)turned to the Lord.

²² Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out ^(DJ)Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³ When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and ^(DK)encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴ For he was a good man, ^(DL)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. ^(DM)And a great many people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas departed for ^(DN)Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

²⁷ And in these days ^(DO)prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ Then one of them, named ^(DP)Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of ^(DQ)Claudius Caesar. ²⁹ Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send ^(DR)relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ^30 (DS)This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.