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Chapter 9 |
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1 | And Saul, yet breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the
high priest, |
| 2
| And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues,
that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might
bring them bound unto Jerusalem. |
| 3 | And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from
heaven: |
| 4 |
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? |
| 5 | And he said, Who art thou,
Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks. |
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6 | And he trembling and astonished said,
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go
into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. |
| 7 | And the
men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no
man. |
| 8 |
And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened,
he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into
Damascus. |
| 9
| And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat
nor drink. |
| 10
| And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named
Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I
am here, Lord. |
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11 | And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the
street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one
called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, |
| 12 | And hath
seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him,
that he might receive his sight. |
| 13 | Then Ananias answered, Lord,
I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at
Jerusalem: |
| 14
| And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind
all that call on thy name. |
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15 | But the Lord said unto him, Go thy
way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel: |
| 16 | For I will shew him how great
things he must suffer for my name's sake. |
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17 | And Ananias went his way,
and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul,
the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath
sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy
Ghost. |
| 18
| And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been
scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
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| 19 | And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul
certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. |
| 20 | And
straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of
God. |
| 21 |
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he
that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for
that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? |
| 22 |
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. |
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23 | And after that many
days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: |
| 24 | But their
laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to
kill him. |
| 25
| Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by
the wall in a basket. |
| 26 | And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he
assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and
believed not that he was a disciple. |
| 27 | But Barnabas took him, and
brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in
the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at
Damascus in the name of Jesus. |
| 28 | And he was with them coming
in and going out at Jerusalem. |
| 29 | And he spake boldly in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about
to slay him. |
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30 | Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down
to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. |
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31 | Then had the churches
rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and
walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied. |
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32 | And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all
quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. |
| 33 | And
there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years,
and was sick of the palsy. |
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34 | And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus
Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose
immediately. |
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35 | And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and
turned to the Lord. |
| 36 | Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple
named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of
good works and almsdeeds which she did. |
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37 | And it came to pass in
those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid
her in an upper chamber. |
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38 | And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to
Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two
men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. |
| 39 | Then
Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the
upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats
and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. |
| 40 | But
Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the
body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she
sat up. |
| 41
| And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he
had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. |
| 42 | And it was
known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. |
| 43 | And it
came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. |
