Acts 9:1-16 ▼

1 But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest

2 and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the way, both men and women, he might bring [them] bound to Jerusalem.

3 But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven,

4 and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

6 But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one.

8 And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading [him] by the hand they brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.

10 And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, [here am] I, Lord.

11 And the Lord [said] to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, [he is] of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying,

12 and has seen [in a vision] a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see.

13 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;

14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.

15 And the Lord said to him, Go, for this [man] is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and [the] sons of Israel:

16 for I will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name.