1 And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the LORD, having gone to the chief priest, 2 asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he may find any being of The Way, both men and women, he may bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And in the going, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly there shone around him a light from Heaven, 4 and having fallen on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the LORD said, “I am Jesus whom you persecute; [[hard for you to kick at the goads”; 6 trembling also, and astonished, he said, “Lord, what do You wish me to do?” And the LORD [said] to him,]] “Arise, and enter into the city, and it will be told [to] you what you must do.” 7 And the men who are journeying with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice but seeing no one, 8 and Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes having been opened, he beheld no one, and leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus, 9 and he was three days without seeing, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 And there was a certain disciple in Damascus, by name Ananias, and the LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias”; and he said, “Behold me, Lord”; 11 and the LORD [says] to him, “Having risen, go on to the street that is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, [one] by name Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prays, 12 and he saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and putting a hand on him, that he may see again.” 13 And Ananias answered, “LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he did to Your holy ones in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests, to bind all those calling on Your Name.” 15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, because this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to carry My Name before nations and kings—also the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name.” 17 And Ananias went away, and entered into the house, and having put on him [his] hands, said, “Saul, brother, the LORD has sent me—Jesus who appeared to you in the way in which you were coming—that you may see again, and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, he also saw again instantly, and having risen, was immersed, 19 and having received nourishment, was strengthened, and Saul was with the disciples in Damascus certain days, 20 and immediately he was preaching the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 And all those hearing were amazed and said, “Is this not he who laid waste in Jerusalem those calling on this Name, and here to this intent had come, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 And Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him, 24 and their counsel against [him] was known to Saul; they were also watching the gates both day and night, that they may kill him, 25 and the disciples having taken him, by night let him down by the wall, letting down in a basket. 26 And Saul, having come to Jerusalem, tried to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple, 27 and Barnabas having taken him, brought [him] to the apostles, and declared to them how he saw the LORD in the way, and that He spoke to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the Name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, coming in and going out in Jerusalem, 29 and speaking boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus; he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill him, 30 and the brothers having known, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and going on in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. 32 And it came to pass that Peter, passing throughout all [quarters], also came down to the holy ones who were dwelling at Lydda, 33 and he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name—for eight years laid on a pallet—who was paralytic, 34 and Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you; arise and spread for yourself”; and immediately he rose, 35 and all those dwelling at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the LORD. 36 And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha (which interpreted, is called Dorcas); this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing; 37 and it came to pass in those days she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, they laid her in an upper chamber, 38 and Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that [place], sent two men to him, calling on him not to delay to come through to them. 39 And Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making while she was with them. 40 And Peter having put them all forth outside, having bowed the knees, prayed, and having turned to the body, said, “Tabitha, arise”; and she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up, 41 and having given her [his] hand, he lifted her up, and having called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive, 42 and it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the LORD; 43 and it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, Simon a tanner.
Acts · Literal Standard Version
Acts 9 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Aeneas
A man at Lydda, bedridden eight years with paralysis, whom Peter healed in the name of Jesus Christ.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:33; Acts 9:34
Ananias
A disciple at Damascus whom the Lord sent to lay hands on Saul, restore his sight, and baptize him.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:10; Acts 9:17; Acts 22:12
Barnabas
A Levite from Cyprus named Joseph and nicknamed Barnabas, 'son of encouragement,' who sold a field for the church, brought Saul to the apostles, and traveled with him as a…
Cited in the guide: Acts 4:36; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22
Judas
The man in whose house on Straight Street Saul was lodging when Ananias came to him.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:11
Simon
A tanner at Joppa whose house by the sea hosted Peter during his stay.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:43; Acts 10:6; Acts 10:32
Tabitha
A disciple at Joppa known for good works and charity, also called Dorcas; Peter raised her from the dead.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:36; Acts 9:40
Places
Damascus
An ancient Aramean capital where Saul (Paul) was converted and first preached. He later escaped over its wall in a basket.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:3; Genesis 14:15; 2 Kings 5:12
Joppa
Judah's main seaport. Cedar for the Temple arrived here, Jonah fled from here, and Peter's rooftop vision here opened the gospel to the Gentiles.
Cited in the guide: Jonah 1:3; Acts 9:36; Acts 10:9
Tarsus
A wealthy university city in Cilicia and Paul's hometown. He was also a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28), which shaped his missionary strategy and legal appeals.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:11; Acts 21:39; Acts 22:3
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 8:3; 1 Timothy 1:13; Acts 9:11–21; Galatians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:9
- 2 Acts 19:23; Acts 19:9; Acts 24:14; Acts 22:4–5; Acts 24:22
- 3 Acts 26:12–13; 1 Corinthians 15:8; Revelation 21:23; Acts 22:6; 1 Timothy 6:16
- 4 Zechariah 2:8; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Genesis 22:11; Isaiah 63:9; Romans 11:22
- 5 1 Timothy 1:13; 1 Samuel 3:4–10; Isaiah 45:9; Job 40:9–10; Job 9:4
- 6 Acts 22:10; 1 Timothy 1:14–16; Acts 26:16; Romans 7:9; Acts 10:32
- 7 Acts 22:9; Daniel 10:7; Acts 26:13–14; John 12:29; Matthew 24:40–41
- 8 Acts 22:11; Acts 9:18; 2 Kings 6:17–20; Acts 13:11; Genesis 19:11
- 9 Jonah 3:6–8; Esther 4:16; 2 Chronicles 33:12–13; 2 Chronicles 33:18–19; Acts 9:11–12
- 10 Acts 10:3; Acts 22:12; Genesis 22:1; Isaiah 6:8; 1 Samuel 3:8–10
- 11 Acts 9:30; Acts 22:3; Acts 11:25; Acts 21:39; Luke 11:9–10
- 12 Mark 5:23; Acts 9:17–18; Acts 9:10
- 13 1 Timothy 1:13–15; Acts 8:3; Acts 22:19–20; Ezekiel 3:14; Acts 9:1
- 14 Acts 9:21; Acts 7:59; 2 Timothy 2:22; Acts 22:16; Acts 9:2–3
- 15 Galatians 1:15–16; Ephesians 3:7–8; 2 Timothy 4:16–17; Romans 11:13; Acts 26:17–20
- 16 1 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:4; Acts 21:11; John 15:20; 2 Timothy 1:12
- 17 Acts 8:17; Acts 2:4; Acts 6:6; Acts 22:12–14; Acts 13:52
- 18 2 Corinthians 3:14; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Acts 13:37–38
- 19 Acts 26:20; 1 Samuel 30:12; Galatians 1:17; Ecclesiastes 9:7; Acts 27:33–36
- 20 John 20:28; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 1:23–24; 1 John 4:14–15; John 20:31
- 21 Acts 8:3; Acts 9:13–14; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Matthew 13:54–55; Galatians 1:13–24
- 22 Acts 18:5; Luke 21:15; Isaiah 40:29; Acts 18:27–28; 1 Corinthians 1:27
- 23 Galatians 1:17–18; 1 Thessalonians 2:15–16; Acts 14:19; Acts 13:50; Matthew 10:16–23
- 24 2 Corinthians 11:32; Acts 25:3; Acts 20:19; Acts 20:3; Psalm 21:11
- 25 2 Corinthians 11:33; Joshua 2:15; 1 Samuel 19:11–12
- 26 Acts 26:20; Galatians 1:17–19; Acts 4:23; Acts 9:19; Acts 22:17–20
- 27 Acts 4:36; Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:19–20; Acts 4:13; Acts 15:25–26
- 28 Acts 1:21; Psalm 121:8; 1 Kings 3:7; Numbers 27:16–17; 2 Samuel 5:2
- 29 Acts 6:1; Acts 11:20; Jude 9; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Acts 17:17
- 30 Acts 9:11; Acts 11:25; Acts 8:40; Galatians 1:21; Acts 17:15
- 31 Psalm 111:10; John 14:16–18; Isaiah 33:6; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 14:26–27
- 32 Acts 9:13; Acts 8:25; Proverbs 2:8; Acts 9:41; Romans 1:7
- 33 Luke 13:16; John 9:1; Acts 14:8; Mark 9:21; Acts 4:22
- 34 Matthew 9:6; Acts 3:12; Acts 3:6; Acts 16:18; Matthew 9:28–30
- 35 Acts 11:21; 1 Chronicles 5:16; Acts 9:42; Isaiah 35:2; Psalm 22:27
- 36 Titus 2:7; Titus 3:8; 2 Chronicles 2:16; Hebrews 13:21; Acts 10:31
- 37 Acts 1:13; Acts 20:8; Mark 14:15; John 11:36–37; John 11:3–4
- 38 Acts 9:36; Acts 11:26; Acts 9:32; 2 Kings 4:28–30
- 39 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Proverbs 31:30–31; Proverbs 10:7; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 25:36–39
- 40 Matthew 9:25; Mark 5:40–42; Luke 8:54; 2 Kings 4:32–36; Acts 7:60
- 41 Mark 1:31; Acts 6:1; Luke 7:12; Luke 7:15; 1 Kings 17:23
- 42 John 12:11; Acts 11:21; John 12:44; Acts 9:35; John 11:45
- 43 Acts 10:6; Acts 10:32
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What may be the reason that He neither drew any one of high authority and importance, nor caused such to be forthcoming for the purpose of instructing Paul?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
… persecuting His disciples, he persecuted his own Lord, and sent Ananias to him that he might recover his sight, and be baptized--"preached," it is said, "Jesus in the synagogues at Damascus, with all freedom of speech, that this is the Son of God, the Christ." This is the mystery which he says was made known to him by revelation, that …
… or perverting their nature, which Thou hast made and ordained, or by an immoderate use of things permitted, or in "burning" in things forbidden to that use which is against nature; or when convicted, raging with heart and voice against Thee, kicking against the pricks; or when, breaking through the pale of human society, they audaciously rejoice in private combinations …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
See, for example, how He Himself, the insulted one, discourses with us, both in the Old Testament, and in the New; in the one saying, "O my people, what have I done unto thee?" in the other, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me." And Paul too bids, "In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves." And Christ again, when His disciples …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… come as a witness to what we say, he who in Damascus said to him, The Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)