Acts 9Acts9

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. The Road to Damascus

   (Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)

2. 1BSBMeanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priestKJVKJV: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
3. 2BSBand requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.KJVKJV: 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.
4. 3BSBAs Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.KJVKJV: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
5. 4BSBHe fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”KJVKJV: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
6. 5BSB“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.KJVKJV: 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.
7. 6BSB“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”KJVKJV: 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.
8. 7BSBThe men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.KJVKJV: And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
9. 8BSBSaul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.KJVKJV: 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.
10. 9BSBFor three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.KJVKJV: And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

11. Ananias Baptizes Saul

12. 10BSBIn Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.KJVKJV: 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.
13. 11BSB“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.KJVKJV: 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,
14. 12BSBIn a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”KJVKJV: And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
15. 13BSBBut Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.KJVKJV: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
16. 14BSBAnd now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”KJVKJV: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
17. 15BSB“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.KJVKJV: 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:
18. 16BSBI will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”KJVKJV: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
19. 17BSBSo Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”KJVKJV: 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.
20. 18BSBAt that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,KJVKJV: And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
21. 19BSBand after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.KJVKJV: And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

22. Saul Preaches at Damascus

23. 20BSBSaul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”KJVKJV: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
24. 21BSBAll who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”KJVKJV: 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?
25. 22BSBBut Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.KJVKJV: But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

26. The Escape from Damascus

27. 23BSBAfter many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,KJVKJV: And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
28. 24BSBbut Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.KJVKJV: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
29. 25BSBOne night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.KJVKJV: Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

30. Saul in Jerusalem

31. 26BSBWhen Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.KJVKJV: 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.
32. 27BSBThen Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.KJVKJV: 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.
33. 28BSBSo Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.KJVKJV: And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
34. 29BSBHe talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.KJVKJV: And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
35. 30BSBWhen the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.KJVKJV: Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

36. The Healing of Aeneas

37. 31BSBThen the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.KJVKJV: Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa 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.
38. 32BSBAs Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.KJVKJV: And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
39. 33BSBThere he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.KJVKJV: And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
40. 34BSB“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,KJVKJV: And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
41. 35BSBand all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.KJVKJV: And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

42. The Raising of Tabitha

    (John 11:38–44)

43. 36BSBIn Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.KJVKJV: 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.
44. 37BSBAt that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.KJVKJV: 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.
45. 38BSBSince Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”KJVKJV: 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.
46. 39BSBSo Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.KJVKJV: 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.
47. 40BSBThen Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.KJVKJV: 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.
48. 41BSBPeter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.KJVKJV: And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
49. 42BSBThis became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.KJVKJV: And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
50. 43BSBAnd Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.KJVKJV: And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.