| Chapter 9
|
| 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. |
| 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. |
|
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 30 | Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to
Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. |
| 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. |
|
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. |
| 34 | And Peter said
unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And
he arose immediately. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
