Acts 9
Living Bible
9 But Paul, threatening with every breath and eager to destroy every Christian, went to the High Priest in Jerusalem. 2 He requested a letter addressed to synagogues in Damascus, requiring their cooperation in the persecution of any believers he found there, both men and women, so that he could bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3 As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven spotted down upon him! 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Paul! Paul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who is speaking, sir?” Paul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city and await my further instructions.”
7 The men with Paul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8-9 As Paul picked himself up off the ground, he found that he was blind. He had to be led into Damascus and was there three days, blind, going without food and water all that time.
10 Now there was in Damascus a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 And the Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street and find the house of a man named Judas and ask there for Paul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now, for 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again!”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And we hear that he has arrest warrants with him from the chief priests, authorizing him to arrest every believer in Damascus!”
15 But the Lord said, “Go and do what I say. For Paul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the nations and before kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”
17 So Ananias went over and found Paul and laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Paul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit and get your sight back.”
18 Instantly (it was as though scales fell from his eyes) Paul could see and was immediately baptized. 19 Then he ate and was strengthened.
He stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days 20 and went at once to the synagogue to tell everyone there the Good News about Jesus—that he is indeed the Son of God!
21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who persecuted Jesus’ followers so bitterly in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And we understand that he came here to arrest them all and take them in chains to the chief priests.”
22 Paul became more and more fervent in his preaching, and the Damascus Jews couldn’t withstand his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Christ.
23 After a while the Jewish leaders determined to kill him. 24 But Paul was told about their plans, that they were watching the gates of the city day and night prepared to murder him. 25 So during the night some of his converts let him down in a basket through an opening in the city wall!
26 Upon arrival in Jerusalem he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was faking! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Paul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus, what the Lord had said to him, and all about his powerful preaching in the name of Jesus. 28 Then they accepted him, and after that he was constantly with the believers 29 and preached boldly in the name of the Lord. But then some Greek-speaking Jews with whom he had argued plotted to murder him. 30 However, when the other believers heard about his danger, they took him to Caesarea and then sent him to his home in Tarsus.
31 Meanwhile, the church had peace throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and grew in strength and numbers. The believers learned how to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 Peter traveled from place to place to visit them,[a] and in his travels came to the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas! Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make your bed.” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around.
36 In the city of Joppa there was a woman named Dorcas (“Gazelle”), a believer who was always doing kind things for others, especially for the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her friends prepared her for burial and laid her in an upstairs room. 38 But when they learned that Peter was nearby at Lydda, they sent two men to beg him to return with them to Joppa. 39 This he did; as soon as he arrived, they took him upstairs where Dorcas lay. The room was filled with weeping widows who were showing one another the coats and other garments Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Dorcas,”[b] and she opened her eyes! And when she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up and called in the believers and widows, presenting her to them.
42 The news raced through the town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, the tanner.
Acts 9
English Standard Version
The Conversion of Saul
9 But Saul, (A)still (B)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to (C)the high priest 2 and asked him for letters (D)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (E)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 (F)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (G)me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, (H)whom you are persecuting. 6 But (I)rise and enter the city, and you will be told (J)what you are to do.” 7 (K)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, (L)hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, (M)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named (N)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, (O)“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man (P)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (Q)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (R)how much evil he has done to (S)your (T)saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from (U)the chief priests to bind all who (V)call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (W)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (X)before the Gentiles and (Y)kings and the children of Israel. 16 For (Z)I will show him how much (AA)he must suffer (AB)for the sake of my name.” 17 So (AC)Ananias departed and entered the house. And (AD)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and (AE)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and (AF)he regained his sight. Then (AG)he rose and was baptized; 19 and (AH)taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For (AI)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, (AJ)“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who (AK)made havoc (AL)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul (AM)increased all the more in strength, and (AN)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving (AO)that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 (AP)When many days had passed, the Jews[a] plotted to kill him, 24 but their (AQ)plot became known to Saul. (AR)They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and (AS)let him down through an opening in the wall,[b] lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26 And (AT)when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But (AU)Barnabas took him and (AV)brought him to the apostles and declared to them (AW)how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and (AX)how at Damascus he had (AY)preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went (AZ)in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against (BA)the Hellenists.[c] But (BB)they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when (BC)the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off (BD)to Tarsus.
31 So (BE)the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And (BF)walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, (BG)it multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32 Now (BH)as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, (BI)Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 (BJ)And all the residents of Lydda and (BK)Sharon saw him, and (BL)they turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36 Now there was in (BM)Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[d] She was full of (BN)good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in (BO)an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, (BP)“Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to (BQ)the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[e] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter (BR)put them all outside, and (BS)knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body (BT)he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and (BU)many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days (BV)with one Simon, a tanner.
Footnotes
- Acts 9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
- Acts 9:25 Greek through the wall
- Acts 9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
- Acts 9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle
- Acts 9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
