The chat will start when you send the first message.
1During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus. So he went to ask the high priest[#9:1 As translated from the Aramaic.]
2and requested a letter of authorization he could take to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, requesting their cooperation in finding and arresting any who were followers of the Way. Saul wanted to capture all of the believers he found, both men and women, and drag them as prisoners back to Jerusalem.[#9:2 Or “synagogues of Damascus.”; #9:2 The “Way” is Jesus Christ, the way that God dispenses himself into human beings. He lives inside of those who believe in him. See John 14:6. “The Way” is also a term Luke uses throughout the book of Acts to designate believers in Jesus.]
3So he obtained the authorization and left for Damascus.
Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded all around him.
4Falling to the ground, he heard a booming voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”[#9:4 To persecute the church is to persecute Jesus. He is one with his beloved church. See Zech. 2:8.]
5-6-7The men accompanying Saul were stunned and speechless, for they heard a heavenly voice but could see no one.
Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, the Victorious, the one you are persecuting. Now, get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you are to do.”
8Saul stood to his feet, and even though his eyes were open he could see nothing—he was blind. So the men had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus.
9For three days he didn’t eat or drink and couldn’t see a thing.
10Living in Damascus was a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling his name. “Ananias.”
“Yes, Lord,” Ananias answered.
11-12The Lord said, “Go at once to the street called Abundance and look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. You will find him at Judah’s house. While he was praying, he saw in a supernatural vision a man named Ananias coming to lay hands upon him to restore his sight.”[#9:11–12 As translated from the Aramaic, or “Fat Street.” The Greek is “Straight Street.” As the straightest street in the city, this is the main east-west thoroughfare in Damascus, which is known today as Midhat Pasha Souq. Damascus, only 190 miles northeast of Jerusalem, in 2017 has a population of about two million and is considered to be the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Many remnants of the Roman occupation, including two-thirds of the walls of the city, can still be seen today. The conversion of Saul the legalist into Paul the grace preacher has a significant lesson for us. We can be amazingly wrong while thinking we are doing right. The Holy Spirit awakens our hearts to feast on Christ, our righteousness. Religion has a deadening effect on our hearts. Like Saul, we have to fall off our “high horse” and bite the dust before our blinded eyes can see.; #9:11–12 Tarsus, or Cilicia, is in southeastern Turkey. Tarsus means “a basket.” See v. 25.; #9:11–12 Or “Judas’ house.” (Judah’s house is the house of praise).; #9:11–12 Made explicit from the text.; #9:11–12 Ananias means “the Lord’s gracious gift.” He truly was the Lord’s gracious gift to Paul, who was healed by God’s gracious gift. The word grace is found 125 times in the New Testament, and Paul uses the word 120 times.; #9:11–12 Ananias means “Yah is merciful.” This is a wonderful play on words in the Aramaic, for God is about to show mercy to Saul and is asking Ananias to live up to his name.]
13“But Lord,” Ananias replied, “many have told me about his terrible persecution of those in Jerusalem who are devoted to you.[#9:13 Or “your holy ones.”]
14In fact, the high priest has authorized him to seize and imprison all those in Damascus who call on your name.”
15The Lord Yahweh answered him, “Arise and go! I have chosen this man to be my special messenger. He will be brought before kings, before many nations, and before the Jewish people to give them the revelation of who I am.[#9:15 As translated from the Aramaic word for “ ,” MarYah .; #9:15 Or “tool.”]
16And I will show him how much he is destined to suffer because of his passion for me.”[#9:16 Or “experience.”]
17Ananias left and found the house where Saul was staying. He went inside and laid hands on him, saying, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me to pray for you so that you might see again and be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.”
18All at once, the crusty substance that was over Saul’s eyes disappeared and he could see perfectly. Immediately, he got up and was baptized.
19After eating a meal, his strength returned.[#9:19 Some Aramaic manuscripts add, “He accepted the message of salvation,” or “He received the hope” (of the kingdom).; #9:19 The sentence “Saul remained with the disciples for several days” has been placed in v. 22 as a concluding statement of the narrative.]
20Within the hour he was in the synagogues, preaching about Jesus and proclaiming, “Jesus is the Son of God!”[#9:20 As translated from the Aramaic.; #9:20 Or “This Man is the Son of God.”]
21Those who heard him were astonished, saying among themselves, “Isn’t this the Saul who furiously persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on the name of Jesus? Didn’t he come here with permission from the high priest to drag them off and take them as prisoners?”
22Saul’s power increased greatly as he became more and more proficient in proving that Jesus was the anointed Messiah. Saul remained there for several days with the disciples, even though it agitated the Jews of Damascus.
23As time passed, the Jews plotted together to kill Saul,
24but it was revealed to him what they were about to do. They closely guarded the gates of the city and tracked his every movement so they could kill him.
25But during the night, some of Saul’s converts helped him escape by lowering him down through an opening in the wall, hiding him in a woven basket.[#9:25 See 2 Cor. 11:33.]
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to introduce himself to the fellowship of the believers, but everyone was afraid of him because they doubted he was a true disciple.
27Barnabas came to his defense and brought him before the apostles. Saul shared with them his supernatural experience of seeing the Lord, who spoke with him on the road to Damascus. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul preached throughout the city in Jesus’ mighty name.[#9:27 See Acts 4:36–37.]
28Then they accepted him as a brother and he remained with them, joining them wherever they went in Jerusalem, boldly preaching in the power and authority of Jesus.[#9:28 Or “in the name of Jesus.”]
29He openly debated with some of the Jews who had adopted the Greek culture, yet they were secretly plotting to murder him.[#9:29 Or “Hellenist Jews.” These were Jews who had adopted the Greek culture and language, as opposed to the orthodox Jews, who were strictly following Hebrew culture. The respected historian Josephus writes in AD 44, in his book of Jewish wars, that Greek was not the predominant language spoken in Israel. (See Antiquities xx, xi, 2.) The Hellenists were Jewish immigrants who had lived in Alexandria, Greece, and in Rome. They would have learned Greek culture and language as well as Hebrew.]
30When the believers discovered their scheme, they smuggled him out of the city and took him to Caesarea and then sent him on to Tarsus.[#9:30 Tarsus was a city in south-central Turkey, about ten miles from the Mediterranean coast. Saul’s family originated from Tarsus, but he grew up in Jerusalem as an orthodox Jew.]
31After this, the church all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a season of peace. The congregations grew larger and larger, with the believers being empowered and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. They worshiped God in wonder and awe, and walked in the fear of the Lord.[#9:31 The “church” in a region is mentioned here, “Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.” Even though great cultural distinctions existed between them, the Holy Spirit had made them one church.; #9:31 Implied in the Hebraic concept of “the fear of the Lord,” which means more than just dread or terror. It also includes “to worship with awe.”]
32As Peter was ministering from place to place, he visited God’s devoted ones in the village of Lydda.[#9:32 Or “traveling.”; #9:32 Lydda (Aramaic, Lod ) means “strife.”]
33He met a man there named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.[#9:33 Aeneas means “praise.” “Praise” had been paralyzed for eight years. Eight is the number of a new beginning.]
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Anointed One instantly and divinely heals you. Now, get up and make your bed.”
35All at once he stood to his feet. And when all the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, they became believers in the Lord.[#9:35 Or “they turned to the Lord.”]
36Now, there was a follower of Jesus who lived in Joppa. Her Aramaic name, Tabitha, means “gazelle.” She lived her life doing kind things for others and serving the poor.[#9:36 Or “Dorcas,” which is the Greek word for “deer.” The name Dorcas is also found in v. 39 in the Greek.]
37But then she became very ill and died. After the disciples prepared her body for burial, they laid her in an upstairs room.[#9:37 Or “washed her body.” By implication they prepared her for burial.]
38When the believers heard that Peter was nearby in Lydda, they sent two men with an urgent message for him to come without delay.
39So Peter went with them back to Joppa, and upon arriving they led him to the upper room.
There were many widows standing next to Peter, weeping. One after another showed him the tunics and other garments that Tabitha had made to bless others.
40Peter made them all leave the room. Then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body, he said, “Tabitha, rise up!”[#9:40 The Greek word used here is ekballo , a strong word that can mean “drive out” or “cast out.”]
At once she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers and all the widows to come and see that she was alive!
42The news spread all over the city of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43Peter remained in Joppa for several more days as a guest at the house of Simon the tanner.[#9:43 Or “Simon Berseus.”]