11NowSaul, still2breathingthreats and murderagainst the disciples of the Lord, went to the highpriest,
2
and asked for 3letters from him to 4the synagogues at 5Damascus, so that if he foundanybelonging to 6the Way, bothmen and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approachingDamascus, and 7suddenly a light from heavenflashedaround him;
4
and 8he fell to the ground and heard a voicesaying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I amJesuswhom you are persecuting,
6
but get up and enter the city, and 9it will be told you what* you mustdo."
7
The men who traveled with him 10stoodspeechless, 11hearing the voice but seeingnoone.
8
Saulgot up from the ground, and 12though his eyes were open, he could seenothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into 13Damascus.
9
And he was threedayswithoutsight, and neitheratenordrank.
10
Now there was a disciple at 14Damascusnamed15Ananias; and the Lordsaid to him in 16a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11
And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the streetcalledStraight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from 17TarsusnamedSaul, for he is praying,
12
and he has seen in a vision a mannamedAnaniascome in and 18lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight."
13
But Ananiasanswered, "Lord, I have heard from manyaboutthisman, 19howmuchharm he did to 20Your saints at Jerusalem;
14
and here he 21hasauthority from the chiefpriests to bindall who 22call on Your name."
15
But the Lordsaid to him, "Go, for 23he is a choseninstrument of Mine, to bear My namebefore24the Gentiles and 25kings and the sons of Israel;
16
for 26I will show him howmuch he mustsuffer for My name'ssake."
17
SoAnaniasdeparted and entered the house, and after 27laying his hands on him said, "28BrotherSaul, the LordJesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be 29filled with the HolySpirit."
18
And immediately there fell from his eyes something likescales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
and he tookfood and was strengthened.
Saul Begins to Preach Christ
19Now30 for severaldays he was with 31 the disciples who were at Damascus,
20
and immediately he began to proclaimJesus32in the synagogues, saying, "He is 33the Son of God."
21
Allthosehearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem34destroyedthose who 35called on thisname, and who had comehere for the purpose of bringing them boundbefore the chiefpriests?"
22
But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23
When36manydays had elapsed, 37the Jewsplottedtogether to doaway with him,
24
but 38their plot became known to Saul. 39They were alsowatching the gatesday and nightso that they might put him to death;
25
but his disciplestook him by night and let him downthrough an opening in the wall, lowering* him in a largebasket.
26
40When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were allafraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27
But 41Barnabastookhold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had 42seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how43at Damascus he had 44spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
28
And he was with them, moving**about**freely** in Jerusalem, 45speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
29
And he was talking and arguing with the 46Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.
30
But when 47the brethrenlearned of it, they brought him down to 48Caesarea and 49sent him away to 50Tarsus.
31
So51the churchthroughoutallJudea and Galilee and Samariaenjoyedpeace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the HolySpirit, it continued to increase.