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9:1  Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,
9:2  and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.
9:3  As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];
9:4  and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?”
9:5  And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
9:6  now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
9:7  The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
9:8  Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9:9  And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.
9:10  Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
9:11  And 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; for he is praying [there],
9:12  and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”
9:13  But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much suffering and evil he has brought on Your saints (God’s people) at Jerusalem;
9:14  and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior].”
9:15  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
9:16  for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.”
9:17  So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].”
9:18  Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized;
9:19  and he took some food and was strengthened. For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.
9:20  And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This Man is the Son of God [the promised Messiah]!”
9:21  All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?”
9:22  But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence] and proving [with Scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
9:23  After considerable time had passed [about three years or so], the Jews plotted together to kill him,
9:24  but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city’s gates day and night so they could kill him;
9:25  but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
9:26  When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
9:27  However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.
9:28  So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
9:29  He was talking and arguing with the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.
9:30  When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].
9:31  So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
9:32  Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the saints (God’s people) who lived at Lydda.
9:33  There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.
9:34  Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
9:35  Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.
9:36  Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.
9:37  During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.
9:38  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.”
9:39  So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
9:40  But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
9:41  And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the saints (God’s people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.
9:42  This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].
9:43  And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.