Acts 9:1-22 ▼

1 Now Saul, still breathing out threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the high priest,

2 requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any being of the Way, both men and women, having bound them, he might bring them to Jerusalem.

3 Now in going, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4 And having fallen on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6 “But rise up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you that which it is necessary for you to do.”

7 And the men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice indeed, but seeing no one.

8 And Saul rose up from the ground, but his eyes having been opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him to Damascus.

9 And he was three days without seeing, and he did not eat, nor did he drink.

10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, it is I, Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him, “Having risen up, go into the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas the one of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

12 and he saw in a vision a man named Ananias having come and having put the hands on him so that he might see again.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, how many evils he did to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all those calling on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is to Me a vessel of choice to carry My name before the Gentiles, and also kings and the sons of Israel.

16 For I will show to him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for My name.”

17 And Ananias went away and entered into the house; and having laid the hands upon him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, the One having appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may see again and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he saw again. And having risen up, he was baptized,

19 and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples in Damascus.

20 And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 And all those hearing were amazed and were saying, “Is this not the one having ravaged those in Jerusalem calling on this name? And he had come here for this, so that he might bring them, having been bound, to the chief priests.”

22 But Saul was empowered all the more and kept confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.