Acts 9:1-30 (New International Version)

Saul's Conversion

9:1-19pp -- Ac 22:3-16; 26:9-18

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.¹ He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,² so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,³ whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.⁴ 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice⁵ say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."⁶ 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound⁷ but did not see anyone.⁸ 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.⁹ So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,¹⁰ "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus¹¹ named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on¹² him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints¹³ in Jerusalem.¹⁴ 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests¹⁵ to arrest all who call on your name."¹⁶ 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument¹⁷ to carry my name before the Gentiles¹⁸ and their kings¹⁹ and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."²⁰ 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on²¹ Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, 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."²² 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,²³

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples²⁴ in Damascus.²⁵ 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues²⁶ that Jesus is the Son of God.²⁷ 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?²⁸ And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?"²⁹ 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.^a30 23 After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,³¹ 24 but Saul learned of their plan.³² Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.³³ 26 When he came to Jerusalem,³⁴ he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas³⁵ took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,³⁶ and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.³⁷ 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews,³⁸ but they tried to kill him.³⁹ 30 When the brothers⁴⁰ learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea⁴¹ and sent him off to Tarsus.⁴²