Acts 9 ~ Acts 9

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1 M eanwhile Saul, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 A nd requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

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 N ow as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 A nd he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me ?

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 A nd Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad.

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 T rembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

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 T he men who were accompanying him were unable to speak, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 T hen Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

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 A nd he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 N ow there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.

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 A nd the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying.

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 A nd he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.

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 B ut Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem;

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 N ow he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 B ut the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;

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 F or I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 S o Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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 A nd instantly something like scales fell from eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 A nd after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days he remained with the disciples at Damascus.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 A nd immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 A nd all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before the chief priests.

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 B ut Saul increased all the more in strength, and continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 A fter considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 B ut their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the gates day and night to kill him,

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 B ut his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 A nd when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple.

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 H owever, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus.

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 S o he went in and out among them at Jerusalem,

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 P reaching freely and confidently and boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 A nd when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 S o the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.

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 N ow as Peter went here and there among them all, he went down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 T here he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedfast for eight years and was paralyzed.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34 A nd Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) makes you whole. Get up and make your bed! And immediately stood up.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35 T hen all the inhabitants of Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36 N ow there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.

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 A bout that time she fell sick and died, and when they had cleansed her, they laid in an upper room.

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 S ince Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him begging him, Do come to us without delay.

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 S o Peter rose and accompanied them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, crying and displaying undershirts (tunics) and garments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she was with them.

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 B ut Peter put them all out and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright.

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 A nd he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling in God’s people and the widows, he presented her to them alive.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42 A nd this became known throughout all Joppa, and many came to believe on the Lord.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43 A nd Peter remained in Joppa for considerable time with a certain Simon a tanner.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.