Acts 9
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1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to the high priest.
2He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.2He asked him for letters to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.3As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”4He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"
5“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
7The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!7Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone.
8Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.8When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn't see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.9For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.
10Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.10Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
11The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.11The Lord told him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he's praying.
12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”12He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again."
13“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”14He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on your name."
15But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.15But the Lord told him, "Go, because he's my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel.
16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”16since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."
17So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”17So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.18All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.19and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus.
20And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This is the Son of God."
21All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”21Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, "This is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesus' name in Jerusalem, isn't it? Didn't he come here to bring them in chains to the high priests?"
22Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.22But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah.
23After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.23After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders plotted to murder Saul,
24They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.24but their plot became known to him. They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him,
25So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket.
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldn't believe he was a disciple.
27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.27Barnabas, however, introduced Saul to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.28So he freely circulated among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord.
29He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.29He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him.
30When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.30When the brothers found out about the plot, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas31So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
32Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda.32Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, he also visited the saints living in Lydda.
33There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.33There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly.34Peter told him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!" At once he got up,
35Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.35and all the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas ). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing.
37About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.37At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room.
38But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, "Come here quickly!"
39So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!40Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.41He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive.
42The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.42What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.43Meanwhile, Peter stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Acts 8
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