1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: 4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord. 11 And the Lord [said ]unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; 12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. 15 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: 16 for I will shew him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even ]Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. 21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havock of them which called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: 24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him: 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 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 at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they went about to kill him. 30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, was multiplied. 32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named AEneas, which had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied. 34 And Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 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. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us. 39 And Peter arose and went with them. And 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. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and 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 abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
Acts · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Acts 9 Revised Version with Apocrypha
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
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)