Acts 9:10-31

New Testament for Everyone

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.

²³ After some days, the Jews made a plot to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul got wind of their plan. They were watching the city gates day and night so that they could do away with him. ²⁵ But the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶ When he got back to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and explained to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ He was with them in Jerusalem, coming and going and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He spoke, as well, to the Hellenists, who tried to kill him. ³⁰ But the family heard of it and took him down to Caesarea. There they sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ So the church in all Judaea, Galilee and Samaria found itself at peace. It was built up and gained in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the holy spirit.