Acts of the Apostles 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest	1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and beatings against the disciples of the Lord, went to 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 he petitioned him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that, if he found any men or women belonging to this Way, he could lead them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.	3 And as he made the journey, it happened that he was approaching Damascus. And suddenly, a light from heaven shone around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"	4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.	5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.”
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 do you want me to do?”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.	7 And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do.” Now the men who were accompanying him were standing stupefied, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no one.
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 Then Saul rose up from the ground. And upon opening his eyes, he saw nothing. So leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.	9 And in that place, he was without sight for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.
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 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Here I am, 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 to him: “Rise up and go into the street that is called Straight, and seek, in the house of Judas, the one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying.”
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 Paul saw a man named Ananias entering and imposing hands upon him, so 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 But Ananias responded: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name."	14 And he has authority here from the leaders of the priests to bind all who invoke your 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 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, for this one is an instrument chosen by me to convey my name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel.
16 and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."	16 For I will reveal to him how much he must suffer on behalf of my name.”
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 departed. And he entered the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, he who appeared to you on the way by which you arrived, sent me so that you would receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,	18 And immediately, it was as if scales had fallen from his eyes, and he received his sight. And rising up, he 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 taken a meal, he was strengthened. Now he was with the disciples who were at Damascus for some days.
20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.	20 And he was continuously preaching Jesus 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 And all who heard him were astonished, and they said, “Is this not the one who, in Jerusalem, was fighting against those invoking this name, and who came here for this: so that he might lead them away to the leaders of the 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 was increasing to a greater extent in ability, and so he was confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus, by affirming that he is the Christ.
23 After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,	23 And when many days were completed, the Jews took counsel as one, so that they might put him to death.
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 treachery became known to Saul. Now they were also watching the gates, day and night, so that they might put him to death.
25 but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.	25 But the disciples, taking him away by night, sent him over the wall by letting him down 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 he had arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, not believing 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 aside and led him to the Apostles. And he explained to them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how, in Damascus, he had acted faithfully 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, entering and departing Jerusalem, and acting faithfully in the name of the Lord.
29 He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him.	29 He also was speaking with the Gentiles and disputing with the Greeks. But they were seeking to kill him.
30 And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.	30 And when the brothers had realized this, they brought him to Caesarea and sent him away 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 Certainly, the Church had peace throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and it was being built up, while walking in the fear of the Lord, and it was being filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.	32 Then it happened that Peter, as he traveled around everywhere, came to the saints who were living at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.	33 But he found there a certain man, named Aeneas, who was a paralytic, who had lain in bed for eight years.
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 to him: “Aeneas, the Lord Jesus Christ heals you. Rise up and arrange your bed.” And immediately he rose up.
35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.	35 And all who were living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they were converted 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 in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which in translation is called Dorcas. She was filled with the good works and almsgiving that she was accomplishing.
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 happened that, in those days, she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
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 Now since Lydda was close to Joppa, the disciples, upon hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, asking him: “Do not be slow in coming to us.”
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, rising up, went with them. And when he had arrived, they led him to an upper room. And all the widows were standing around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made for 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 And when they had all been sent outside, Peter, kneeling down, prayed. And turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes and, upon seeing Peter, sat up again.
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 offering her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called in the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.	42 Now this became known throughout all of Joppa. And many believed in the Lord.
43 And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.	43 And it happened that he resided for many days in Joppa, with a certain Simon, a tanner.