Acts 9

Worldwide English (New Testament)

9 Saul was still very angry with the Lord's disciples. He said he would kill them. He went to the high priest.

²He asked him for letters to take to the meeting places at Damascus. In this way he was given the power to catch any men or women disciples. He could tie them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³He went on his way. All at once, near the city of Damascus, a light from the sky shone around him.

⁴He fell to the ground and heard someone say, `Saul, Saul, why are you troubling me?'

⁵Saul said, `Who are you, Lord?' The Lord said, `I am Jesus. You are troubling me.

⁶But get up and go to the city. There you will be told what you must do.'

⁷The men who had come with Saul stood there. They did not say a word. They heard a voice but did not see anyone.

⁸Saul got up off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. They took his hand and led him to Damascus.

⁹For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.

¹⁰A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said. `Ananias.' He replied, `Here I am, Lord.'

¹¹The Lord said, `Go into the street which is called Straight. At the house of Judas, ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus. He is there, talking with God.

¹²In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming to him. He has seen him put his hands on him so that he may see again.'

¹³Then Ananias replied, `Lord, often I have heard of this man. He has brought much trouble to your people at Jerusalem.

¹⁴The chief priests have given him power in this city to put into prison all those who call on your name.'

¹⁵The Lord said, `Go, I have chosen him to take my name to the people who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel also.

¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.'

¹⁷Then Ananias went. He went into the house and put his hands on Saul. He said, `Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus came to you on the road while you were coming here. He has sent me to you so that you may see again, and that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

¹⁸At once some kind of skin which had covered Saul's eyes came off. He was able to see again from then on. He got up and was baptised.

¹⁹And when he had eaten food, he was strong again. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples at Damascus.

²⁰Right away he went to the Jewish meeting places and told the people that Jesus is the Son of God.

²¹All the people who heard him were surprised. They said, `This man killed the people who called on Jesus' name in Jerusalem. He came here to catch them and tie them and take them to the chief priests!'

²²But Saul became stronger and stronger. He proved that Jesus is the Christ and made it so plain that the Jews at Damascus did not know what to say.

²³Then some time after that, the leaders of the Jews planned to kill Saul.

²⁴But he found out that they were waiting for him. The Jewish leaders watched the gates of the city night and day. They were waiting for a chance to kill him.

²⁵Then one night the disciples put him in a basket and let him down outside the city wall.

²⁶When Saul came to Jerusalem, he wanted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe that he was a disciple.

²⁷But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them, `Saul has seen the Lord on the road. The Lord has talked to him. After that he told God's word in the name of Jesus, without fear at Damascus.'

²⁸So Saul stayed with the apostles and went around in Jerusalem. He told God's word in the name of the Lord Jesus without fear.

²⁹He talked to the Jews who spoke the Greek language. But they did not agree with Saul, and so they made plans to kill him.

³⁰When the Christian brothers knew that, they took him to Caesarea. Then they sent him to Tarsus [the city where he was born].

³¹After that, the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were not troubled any more and they believed more strongly. The people obeyed the Lord, and the Holy Spirit helped them to believe. And many more people joined them.

³²While Peter was travelling through all the towns, he came to visit God's people who lived in the city of Lydda.

³³There he saw a man named Aeneas who was sick. He could not stand up. He had been on his bed for eight years.

³⁴Peter said to him, `Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!' The man got up at once.

³⁵All the people who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶In the city of Joppa there was a disciple. Her name was Tabitha. That means Dorcas or Gazelle. She did much good work and she gave many things to the poor people.

³⁷She became sick and died. They bathed her body and put her in a room upstairs.

³⁸Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda, they sent two men and asked for him to come quickly.

³⁹Peter got up and went with them. When he got there, they took him to the room upstairs. Women whose husbands were dead stood there crying. They showed Peter the clothes and coats that Dorcas had made for them while she was with them.

⁴⁰Peter put them all out. He kneeled down and talked to God. He turned to the body and said, `Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹He took her hand and helped her get up. Then he called in God's people and the women, and he gave her back to them alive.

⁴²All over Joppa people heard about this. Many people believed on the Lord.

⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He was with a man named Simon, who made skins into leather.

Hechos 9

La Biblia de las Américas

Conversión de Saulo

9 Saulo ^(A), respirando todavía amenazas^[a] y muerte contra los discípulos del Señor^(B), fue al sumo sacerdote, ²y le pidió cartas para las sinagogas^(C) de Damasco^(D), para que si encontraba algunos que pertenecieran al Camino^(E), tanto hombres como mujeres, los pudiera llevar atados a Jerusalén^(F). ³^(G)Y sucedió que mientras viajaba, al acercarse a Damasco, de repente resplandeció en su derredor una luz del cielo^(H); ⁴y al caer a tierra, oyó una voz que le decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues^(I)? ⁵Y él dijo: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y Él respondió: Yo soy Jesús a quien tú persigues; ⁶levántate^[b], entra en la ciudad, y se te dirá lo que debes hacer^(J). ⁷Los hombres que iban con él se detuvieron atónitos^[c]^(K), oyendo la voz^[d]^(L), pero sin ver a nadie. ⁸Saulo se levantó del suelo, y aunque sus ojos estaban abiertos, no veía nada^(M); y llevándolo por la mano, lo trajeron a Damasco^(N). ⁹Y estuvo tres días sin ver, y no comió ni bebió.

Ananías visita a Saulo

¹⁰Había en Damasco^(O) cierto discípulo llamado Ananías^(P); y el Señor le dijo en una visión^(Q): Ananías. Y él dijo: Heme aquí, Señor. ¹¹Y el Señor le dijo: Levántate y ve a la calle que se llama Derecha, y pregunta en la casa de Judas por un hombre de Tarso^(R) llamado Saulo, porque, he aquí, está orando, ¹²y ha visto en una visión^[e] a un hombre llamado Ananías, que entra y pone las manos sobre él para que recobre la vista^(S). ¹³Pero Ananías respondió: Señor, he oído de muchos acerca de este hombre, cuánto mal ha hecho a tus santos^(T) en Jerusalén^(U), ¹⁴y aquí tiene autoridad de los principales sacerdotes para prender^(V) a todos los que invocan tu nombre^(W). ¹⁵Pero el Señor le dijo: Ve, porque él me es un instrumento^[f] escogido^(X), para llevar mi nombre en presencia de los gentiles^(Y), de los reyes^(Z) y de los hijos de Israel; ¹⁶porque yo le mostraré cuánto debe padecer^(AA) por mi nombre. ¹⁷Ananías fue y entró en la casa, y después de poner las manos sobre él^(AB), dijo: Hermano Saulo, el Señor Jesús, que se te apareció en el camino por donde venías, me ha enviado para que recobres la vista^(AC) y seas lleno del Espíritu Santo^(AD). ¹⁸Al instante cayeron de sus ojos como unas escamas, y recobró la vista; y se levantó y fue bautizado. ¹⁹Tomó alimentos y cobró fuerzas.

Y por varios días estuvo con los discípulos^(AE) que estaban en Damasco^(AF).

Saulo predica en Damasco

²⁰Y enseguida se puso a predicar a Jesús en las sinagogas^(AG), diciendo^[g]: Él es el Hijo de Dios^(AH). ²¹Y todos los que lo escuchaban estaban asombrados y decían: ¿No es este el que en Jerusalén destruía a los que invocaban este nombre^(AI), y el que había venido aquí con este propósito: para llevarlos atados ante los principales sacerdotes^(AJ)? ²²Pero Saulo seguía fortaleciéndose y confundiendo a los judíos que habitaban en Damasco, demostrando que este Jesús es el Cristo^[h].

Saulo escapa de los judíos

²³Después de muchos días^(AK), los judíos tramaron^(AL) deshacerse de él, ²⁴pero su conjura llegó al conocimiento de Saulo^(AM). Y aun vigilaban las puertas día y noche con el propósito de matarlo^(AN); ²⁵pero sus discípulos lo tomaron de noche y lo sacaron^[i] por una abertura en la muralla, bajándolo en una canasta.

Saulo en Jerusalén

²⁶Cuando llegó a Jerusalén, trataba de juntarse con los discípulos; y todos le temían, no creyendo que era discípulo^(AO). ²⁷Pero Bernabé^(AP) lo tomó y lo presentó a los apóstoles, y les contó cómo Saulo había visto al Señor en el camino, y que Él le había hablado^(AQ), y cómo en Damasco^(AR) había hablado con valor en el nombre de Jesús^(AS). ²⁸Y estaba con ellos moviéndose libremente^[j] en Jerusalén, hablando con valor en el nombre del Señor^(AT). ²⁹También hablaba y discutía con los judíos helenistas^(AU); mas estos intentaban matarlo. ³⁰Pero cuando los hermanos^(AV) lo supieron, lo llevaron a Cesarea^(AW), y de allí lo enviaron^(AX) a Tarso^(AY).

³¹Entretanto la iglesia^(AZ) gozaba de paz por toda Judea, Galilea y Samaria, y era edificada; y andando en el temor del Señor y en la fortaleza del Espíritu Santo, seguía creciendo.

Curación de Eneas

³²Y^[k] mientras Pedro viajaba por todas aquellas regiones, vino también a los santos^(BA) que vivían en Lida^(BB). ³³Allí encontró a un hombre llamado Eneas, que había estado postrado en cama por ocho años, porque estaba paralítico. ³⁴Y Pedro le dijo: Eneas, Jesucristo te sana; levántate y haz tu cama. Y al instante se levantó. ³⁵Todos los que vivían en Lida^(BC) y en Sarón^(BD) lo vieron, y^[l] se convirtieron al Señor^(BE).

Resurrección de Dorcas

³⁶Había entonces en Jope^(BF) una discípula llamada Tabita (que traducido al griego es Dorcas^[m]); esta mujer era rica^[n] en obras buenas y de caridad que hacía continuamente. ³⁷Y sucedió que en aquellos días se enfermó y murió; y lavado su cuerpo, lo pusieron en un aposento alto^(BG). ³⁸Como Lida estaba cerca de Jope^(BH), los discípulos^(BI), al oír que Pedro estaba allí, le enviaron dos hombres, rogándole: No tardes en venir a nosotros. ³⁹Entonces Pedro se levantó y fue con ellos. Cuando llegó, lo llevaron al aposento alto^(BJ), y todas las viudas^(BK) lo rodearon llorando, mostrando todas las túnicas y ropas que Dorcas solía hacer cuando estaba con ellas. ⁴⁰Mas Pedro, haciendo salir a todos, se arrodilló y oró^(BL), y volviéndose al cadáver, dijo: Tabita, levántate^(BM). Y ella abrió los ojos, y al ver a Pedro, se incorporó^(BN). ⁴¹Y él le dio la mano y la levantó; y llamando a los santos^(BO) y a las viudas^(BP), la presentó viva. ⁴²Y esto se supo en todo Jope^(BQ), y muchos creyeron en el Señor^(BR). ⁴³Y^[o] Pedro se quedó en Jope^(BS) muchos días con un tal Simón, curtidor^(BT).

Footnotes

Hechos 9:1 Lit., amenaza
Hechos 9:6 Algunas versiones agregan al principio del vers.: El, temblando y temeroso, dijo: Señor, ¿qué quieres que yo haga? Y el Señor le dijo: Levántate
Hechos 9:7 Lit., mudos
Hechos 9:7 O, el sonido
Hechos 9:12 Algunos mss. no incluyen: en una visión
Hechos 9:15 O, vaso
Hechos 9:20 Lit., que
Hechos 9:22 I.e., el Mesías
Hechos 9:25 Lit., bajaron
Hechos 9:28 Lit., entrando y saliendo
Hechos 9:32 Lit., Y sucedió que
Hechos 9:35 Lit., los cuales
Hechos 9:36 O, Gacela
Hechos 9:36 Lit., llena
Hechos 9:43 Lit., Y sucedió que

Acts 9

New International Version

Saul’s Conversion^(A)

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.^(B) He went to the high priest ²and 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. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^(E) ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(G)

⁷The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(H) but did not see anyone.^(I) ⁸Saul 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. ⁹For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

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

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹The 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. ¹²In 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) ¹⁴And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(Q)

¹⁵But 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. ¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(U)

¹⁷Then 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) ¹⁸Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^(X) ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(Y) in Damascus.^(Z) ²⁰At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.^(AB) ²¹All 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) ²²Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(AE)

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

²⁶When 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. ²⁷But 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) ²⁸So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a]^(AM) but they tried to kill him.^(AN) ³⁰When the believers^(AO) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea^(AP) and sent him off to Tarsus.^(AQ)

³¹Then 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

³²As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people^(AT) who lived in Lydda. ³³There 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. ³⁵All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon^(AV) saw him and turned to the Lord.^(AW)

³⁶In Joppa^(AX) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good^(AY) and helping the poor. ³⁷About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.^(AZ) ³⁸Lydda 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!”

³⁹Peter 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.

⁴⁰Peter 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. ⁴¹He 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. ⁴²This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.^(BF) ⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.^(BG)

Footnotes

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

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 ²and 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. ⁴Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, ^(E)why are you persecuting Me?”

⁵And 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.”

⁶So 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.”

⁷And ^(F)the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸Then 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. ⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

¹⁰Now 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.”

¹¹So 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. ¹²And 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.”

¹³Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^(I)how much ^[b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all ^(J)who call on Your name.”

¹⁵But 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. ¹⁶For ^(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.” ¹⁸Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

¹⁹So when he had received food, he was strengthened. ^(T)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

²⁰Immediately he preached ^[e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

²¹Then 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?”

²²But 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

²³Now 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. ²⁵Then the disciples took him by night and ^(Y)let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Saul at Jerusalem

²⁶And ^(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. ²⁸So ^(AC)he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. ²⁹And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the ^(AD)Hellenists,^[f] ^(AE)but they attempted to kill him. ³⁰When 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

³²Now 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. ³³There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. ³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^(AL)Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. ³⁵So all who dwelt at Lydda and ^(AM)Sharon saw him and ^(AN)turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶At 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. ³⁷But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in ^(AP)an upper room. ³⁸And 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. ³⁹Then 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. ⁴⁰But 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. ⁴¹Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa, ^(AT)and many believed on the Lord. ⁴³So 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

Actes 9

Louis Segond

9 Cependant Saul, respirant encore la menace et le meurtre contre les disciples du Seigneur, se rendit chez le souverain sacrificateur,

²et lui demanda des lettres pour les synagogues de Damas, afin que, s'il trouvait des partisans de la nouvelle doctrine, hommes ou femmes, il les amenât liés à Jérusalem.

³Comme il était en chemin, et qu'il approchait de Damas, tout à coup une lumière venant du ciel resplendit autour de lui.

⁴Il tomba par terre, et il entendit une voix qui lui disait: Saul, Saul, pourquoi me persécutes-tu?

⁵Il répondit: Qui es-tu, Seigneur? Et le Seigneur dit: Je suis Jésus que tu persécutes. Il te serait dur de regimber contre les aiguillons.

⁶Tremblant et saisi d'effroi, il dit: Seigneur, que veux-tu que je fasse? Et le Seigneur lui dit: Lève-toi, entre dans la ville, et on te dira ce que tu dois faire.

⁷Les hommes qui l'accompagnaient demeurèrent stupéfaits; ils entendaient bien la voix, mais ils ne voyaient personne.

⁸Saul se releva de terre, et, quoique ses yeux fussent ouverts, il ne voyait rien; on le prit par la main, et on le conduisit à Damas.

⁹Il resta trois jours sans voir, et il ne mangea ni ne but.

¹⁰Or, il y avait à Damas un disciple nommé Ananias. Le Seigneur lui dit dans une vision: Ananias! Il répondit: Me voici, Seigneur!

¹¹Et le Seigneur lui dit: Lève-toi, va dans la rue qu'on appelle la droite, et cherche, dans la maison de Judas, un nommé Saul de Tarse.

¹²Car il prie, et il a vu en vision un homme du nom d'Ananias, qui entrait, et qui lui imposait les mains, afin qu'il recouvrât la vue. Ananias répondit:

¹³Seigneur, j'ai appris de plusieurs personnes tous les maux que cet homme a faits à tes saints dans Jérusalem;

¹⁴et il a ici des pouvoirs, de la part des principaux sacrificateurs, pour lier tous ceux qui invoquent ton nom.

¹⁵Mais le Seigneur lui dit: Va, car cet homme est un instrument que j'ai choisi, pour porter mon nom devant les nations, devant les rois, et devant les fils d'Israël;

¹⁶et je lui montrerai tout ce qu'il doit souffrir pour mon nom.

¹⁷Ananias sortit; et, lorsqu'il fut arrivé dans la maison, il imposa les mains à Saul, en disant: Saul, mon frère, le Seigneur Jésus, qui t'est apparu sur le chemin par lequel tu venais, m'a envoyé pour que tu recouvres la vue et que tu sois rempli du Saint Esprit.

¹⁸Au même instant, il tomba de ses yeux comme des écailles, et il recouvra la vue. Il se leva, et fut baptisé;

¹⁹et, après qu'il eut pris de la nourriture, les forces lui revinrent. Saul resta quelques jours avec les disciples qui étaient à Damas.

²⁰Et aussitôt il prêcha dans les synagogues que Jésus est le Fils de Dieu.

²¹Tous ceux qui l'entendaient étaient dans l'étonnement, et disaient: N'est-ce pas celui qui persécutait à Jérusalem ceux qui invoquent ce nom, et n'est-il pas venu ici pour les emmener liés devant les principaux sacrificateurs?

²²Cependant Saul se fortifiait de plus en plus, et il confondait les Juifs qui habitaient Damas, démontrant que Jésus est le Christ.

²³Au bout d'un certain temps, les Juifs se concertèrent pour le tuer,

²⁴et leur complot parvint à la connaissance de Saul. On gardait les portes jour et nuit, afin de lui ôter la vie.

²⁵Mais, pendant une nuit, les disciples le prirent, et le descendirent par la muraille, dans une corbeille.

²⁶Lorsqu'il se rendit à Jérusalem, Saul tâcha de se joindre à eux; mais tous le craignaient, ne croyant pas qu'il fût un disciple.

²⁷Alors Barnabas, l'ayant pris avec lui, le conduisit vers les apôtres, et leur raconta comment sur le chemin Saul avait vu le Seigneur, qui lui avait parlé, et comment à Damas il avait prêché franchement au nom de Jésus.

²⁸Il allait et venait avec eux dans Jérusalem, et s'exprimait en toute assurance au nom du Seigneur.

²⁹Il parlait aussi et disputait avec les Hellénistes; mais ceux-ci cherchaient à lui ôter la vie.

³⁰Les frères, l'ayant su, l'emmenèrent à Césarée, et le firent partir pour Tarse.

³¹L'Église était en paix dans toute la Judée, la Galilée et la Samarie, s'édifiant et marchant dans la crainte du Seigneur, et elle s'accroissait par l'assistance du Saint Esprit.

³²Comme Pierre visitait tous les saints, il descendit aussi vers ceux qui demeuraient à Lydde.

³³Il y trouva un homme nommé Énée, couché sur un lit depuis huit ans, et paralytique.

³⁴Pierre lui dit: Énée, Jésus Christ te guérit; lève-toi, et arrange ton lit. Et aussitôt il se leva.

³⁵Tous les habitants de Lydde et du Saron le virent, et ils se convertirent au Seigneur.

³⁶Il y avait à Joppé, parmi les disciples, une femme nommée Tabitha, ce qui signifie Dorcas: elle faisait beaucoup de bonnes oeuvres et d'aumônes.

³⁷Elle tomba malade en ce temps-là, et mourut. Après l'avoir lavée, on la déposa dans une chambre haute.

³⁸Comme Lydde est près de Joppé, les disciples, ayant appris que Pierre s'y trouvait, envoyèrent deux hommes vers lui, pour le prier de venir chez eux sans tarder.

³⁹Pierre se leva, et partit avec ces hommes. Lorsqu'il fut arrivé, on le conduisit dans la chambre haute. Toutes les veuves l'entourèrent en pleurant, et lui montrèrent les tuniques et les vêtements que faisait Dorcas pendant qu'elle était avec elles.

⁴⁰Pierre fit sortir tout le monde, se mit à genoux, et pria; puis, se tournant vers le corps, il dit: Tabitha, lève-toi! Elle ouvrit les yeux, et ayant vu Pierre, elle s'assit.

⁴¹Il lui donna la main, et la fit lever. Il appela ensuite les saints et les veuves, et la leur présenta vivante.

⁴²Cela fut connu de tout Joppé, et beaucoup crurent au Seigneur.

⁴³Pierre demeura quelque temps à Joppé, chez un corroyeur nommé Simon.

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Acts 9

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