The Conversion of Saul
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But Saul, 1still 2breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to 3the high priest
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and asked him for letters 4to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to 5the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
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6Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
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And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting 7me?"
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And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, 8whom you are persecuting.
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Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, 13he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
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And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
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Now there was a disciple at Damascus named 14Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, 15"Here I am, Lord."
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And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man 16of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
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and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and 17lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
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But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, 18how much evil he has done to 19your 20saints at Jerusalem.
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But the Lord said to him, "Go, for 23he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name 24before the Gentiles and 25kings and the children of Israel.
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So 29Ananias departed and entered the house. And 30laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and 31be filled with the Holy Spirit."
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And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and 32he regained his sight. Then 33he rose and was baptized;
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And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 36"He is the Son of God."
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And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who 37made havoc 38in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?"
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But Saul 39increased all the more in strength, and 40confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving 41that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
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42When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
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but their 43plot became known to Saul. 44They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
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but his disciples took him by night and 45let him down through an opening in the wall,a lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
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And 46when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
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But 47Barnabas took him and 48brought him to the apostles and declared to them 49how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and 50how at Damascus he had 51preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
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So he went 52in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
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And when 55the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off 56to Tarsus.
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So 57the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And 58walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, 59it multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
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Now 60as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
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There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
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And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, 61Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.
Dorcas Restored to Life
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Now there was in 65Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.c She was full of 66good works and acts of charity.
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In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in 67an upper room.
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Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, 68"Please come to us without delay."
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So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to 69the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunicsd and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
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But Peter 70put them all outside, and 71knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body 72he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
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And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
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And it became known throughout all Joppa, and 73many believed in the Lord.
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And he stayed in Joppa for many days 74with one Simon, a tanner.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)