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Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord's followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest. 2 He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?’ 5 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.
‘I am Jesus,’ he replied. ‘I am the one you are opposing. 6 Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.’
7 The men travelling with Saul stood there. They weren't able to speak. They had heard the sound. But they didn't see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he couldn't see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind. He didn't eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. ‘Ananias!’ he said.
‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.
11 The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man's name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.’
13 ‘Lord’, Ananias answered, ‘I've heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.’
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for me.’
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. ‘Brother Saul’, he said, ‘you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Right away something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptised. 19 After eating some food, he got his strength back.
9:1–19 Saul was committed to serving and obeying God. He strongly believed the teachings of the Jewish elders. He was faithful to Jewish laws and Jewish practices. He believed that the Way of Jesus went against God. So he worked hard to destroy those who followed Jesus. Saul thought that he brought honour to God by doing that. But Jesus had other plans for Saul. The message about Jesus had to be announced to the whole world. Jesus chose Saul to be part of this work. Jesus appeared to Saul as he travelled to Damascus to do harm to believers there. Saul was shocked when he heard Jesus speak to him. Saul went blind. A believer named Ananias placed hands on Saul. He explained what had happened when Saul saw Jesus. Saul was able to see again. Saul understood something about how much he loved God and was committed to God. He should love Jesus that much and be that committed to Jesus. This Saul was the same man who was called the apostle Paul later in Acts. He was baptised to show that he believed Jesus was the Messiah.
Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus. 20 Right away he began to preach in the synagogues. He taught that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed. They asked, ‘Isn't he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem? Didn't he make trouble for those who worship Jesus? Hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’ 22 But Saul grew more and more powerful. The Jews living in Damascus couldn't believe what was happening. Saul proved to them that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days, the Jews had a meeting. They planned to kill Saul. 24 But he learned about their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates closely in order to kill him. 25 But his followers helped him escape by night. They lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the believers. But they were all afraid of him. They didn't believe he was really one of Jesus' followers. 27 But Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them about Saul's journey. He said that Saul had seen the Lord. He told how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also said that Saul had preached without fear in Jesus' name in Damascus. 28 So Saul stayed with the believers. He moved about freely in Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the Lord's name. 29 He talked and argued with the Greek Jews. But they tried to kill him. 30 The other believers heard about this. They took Saul down to Caesarea. From there they sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The church was strengthened and grew larger. That's because they worshipped the Lord and the Holy Spirit helped them.
9:20–31 Saul's life completely changed after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. He became fully committed to telling everyone about Jesus. He preached in synagogues. He used the Scriptures to show Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. People were shocked at the change in Saul. Some Jews in Damascus made plans to kill him. The suffering that Jesus had talked about started for Saul. Saul escaped to Jerusalem but the believers there were afraid of him. Barnabas helped the believers to trust Saul and the work Jesus had done in his life. When Saul's life was once again in danger he had to leave Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the church kept growing. There were believers in Jerusalem and Judea as well as north in Galilee and Samaria.
32 Peter travelled around the country. He went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed. 34 ‘Aeneas’, Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!’ So Aeneas got up right away. 35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people. 37 About that time she became ill and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. 38 Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, ‘Please come at once!’
39 Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned towards the dead woman. He said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather.
9:32–43 Jesus had told the disciples that they would do work like he had done (John 14:12–14). Jesus had promised also that he would do what the disciples asked in his name. This would bring glory to God. Luke recorded many stories in Acts to show how Jesus' words came true. Peter announced that Jesus would heal a man named Aeneas. He was healed! A dead woman named Tabitha was brought back to life after Peter prayed for her. The news about these miracles spread. Because of them, many people turned away from their sin. They started to follow Jesus as their Lord. God was glorified because of what the apostles did in Jesus' name.