“1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 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 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly
there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the
earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me? 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 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 And the men which
journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
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
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”
“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 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the
street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for
[one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 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 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 hath authority from the chief priests to
bind all that call on thy name. 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 For I will shew him
how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 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 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 received meat, he was strengthened.
Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son
of God. 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 increased the more in strength, and confounded the
Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
“23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to
kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched
the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by
night, and let [him] down by the wall in a basket. 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 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 And
he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 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 [Which] when the brethren knew, they
brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 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 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he
came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found
a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was
sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ
maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”
“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 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 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 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 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 And he gave her [his] hand, and
lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented
her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed
in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa
with one Simon a tanner.” (Acts 9:1-43 AV)
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