Acts of the Apostles 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest	1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.	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 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.	3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"	4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.	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 Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."	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 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.	7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.	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 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.	9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord."	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 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying,	11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight."	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 But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.	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 has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name."	14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,	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 and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."	16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit."	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 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,	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 eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,	19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.	20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 All who heard him were astounded and said, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?"	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 grew all the stronger and confounded (the) Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah.	22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,	23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 but their plot became known to Saul. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him,	24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.	25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.	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 Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.	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 He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.	28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him.	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 And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.	30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers.	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 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.	32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.	33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." He got up at once.	34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.	35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.	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 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs.	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 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."	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 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with 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 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, "Tabitha, rise up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.	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 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.	41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.	42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43 And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.	43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.