Acts 9:1-22

New Testament for Everyone

The conversion of Saul

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out threats and murder on the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and requested from him official letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he could find people who belonged to the Way, men and women alike, tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ While he was on the journey, and was getting near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice speaking to him.

“Saul, Saul!” said the voice. “Why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” he asked.

“I am Jesus,” he said, “and you are persecuting me. ⁶ But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with Saul stood speechless. They heard the voice, but couldn’t see anybody. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he couldn’t see anything. So they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. ⁹ He went for three days, still unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

Ananias and Saul

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision.

“Ananias!” he said.

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.

¹¹ “Get up,” said the Lord to him, “and go to the street called Straight. Inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. Look—he’s praying! ¹² And he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming and laying his hands on him so that he can see again.”

¹³ “Well, Lord,” replied Ananias, “I’ve heard about this man from several people . . . all about how he’s done wicked things to your holy people in Jerusalem . . . ¹⁴ and now he’s come here with authority from the chief priests to tie up everybody who calls on your Name!”

¹⁵ “Just go,” replied the Lord. “He is a chosen vessel for me, to carry my Name before nations and kings—and the children of Israel, too. ¹⁶ I am going to show him how many things he is going to have to suffer for the sake of my Name.”

¹⁷ So Ananias set off, went into the house, and laid his hands on him.

“Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me—yes, Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—so that you may be able to see again, and receive the holy spirit.”

¹⁸ At once something like scales fell off his eyes, and he was able to see. He got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ He had something to eat, and regained his strength.

“He is God’s son”

Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus for a few days. ²⁰ At once he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This really is the son of God!” ²¹ Everyone was astonished, and said, “Isn’t this the man who caused havoc to those in Jerusalem who call on this Name? And here he is, coming to tie them up and take them off to the high priests!” ²² But Saul grew all the stronger, and threw the Jews in Damascus into confusion by demonstrating that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.