Acts 9:1-32

¹But Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

²and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any who were of this way of belief, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone around a him a light from heaven;

⁴and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

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

⁶But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

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

⁸And Saul arose from the earth; but when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

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

¹⁰And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

¹¹And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for lo! he prayeth,

¹²and hath seen a man, named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive sight.

¹³But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how great evils he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

¹⁴And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, Go; for this man is to me a chosen vessel, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel.

¹⁶For I myself will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

¹⁷And Ananias went away, and entered the house; and putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayst receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸And immediately there fell off from his eyes as it were scales; and he received sight, and arose, and was baptized.

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

²⁰And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

²¹And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name? And he hath come hither for this purpose, that he may bring them bound to the chief priests.

²²But Saul gained still more strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

²³But after many days had passed, the Jews took counsel together to kill him;

²⁴but their plot became known to Saul; and they were even watching the gates day and night to kill him.

²⁵But his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and hew he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

²⁸And he was with them going in and out at Jerusalem,

²⁹speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he often spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; but they were endeavoring to slay him.

³⁰But the brethren obtaining knowledge of it, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹The church therefore throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord; and by the exhortation of the Holy Spirit it was greatly increased.

³²And it came to pass, that as Peter went through the whole country, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.