Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

1Saul was still saying angry things about the followers of Jesus. He even wanted them killed. He went to the high priest, the top leader at the temple.

2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

2Saul asked him for letters to the meeting places in Damascus. Then, if he found any men or women who followed the way of Jesus, he could tie them up. He would bring them back to Jerusalem.

3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

3Saul was on the road, coming close to Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him.

4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

4He fell down on the ground. He heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you hurting me?"

5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

5Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus. You are hurting me. Kicking against a sharp stick only hurts you."

Note"Kick against the pricks" is old English. A farmer used a sharp stick to guide his oxen. If the ox kicked at the stick, it only hurt itself.

6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

6Saul was shaking and amazed. He said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" The Lord said, "Get up and go into the city. Someone will tell you what to do."

7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

7The men walking with Saul stood still. They could not say a word. They heard the voice, but they saw no one.

8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

8Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he could not see. So the men led him by the hand into Damascus.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

9For three days he could not see. He did not eat or drink anything.

10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

10A follower of Jesus lived in Damascus. His name was Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, a picture God gave him to see. The Lord said, "Ananias!" He answered, "I am here, Lord."

11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

11The Lord said, "Get up. Go to the street called Straight. Ask at Judas's house for a man named Saul. He comes from the town of Tarsus. Right now he is praying.

12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

12"In a vision Saul has seen a man named Ananias come in. That man puts his hands on Saul so he can see again."

13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

13Ananias said, "Lord, many people have told me about this man. He has hurt your people in Jerusalem very badly.

14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

14"The chief priests, the temple leaders, gave him the right to come here. He can arrest anyone who prays to you."

15But 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:

15But the Lord said, "Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will tell about me to kings and to the people of Israel. He will tell people who are not Jews too.

16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

16"I will show him how much he must suffer because he serves me."

17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

17So Ananias went to the house and went inside. He put his hands on Saul. He said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one who met you on the road. He sent me so you can see again. He will also fill you with the Holy Spirit."

18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

18Right away something like fish scales fell off Saul's eyes. He could see again. He got up and was baptized, washed with water to show he belonged to Jesus.

19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

19Then he ate some food, and he felt strong again. Saul stayed for a few days with the followers of Jesus in Damascus.

NoteThe KJV says Saul "received meat." In 1611, "meat" meant food of any kind, not just meat from animals.

20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

20Right away he began to preach in the meeting places. He told people that Jesus is the Son of God.

21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

21Everyone who heard him was surprised. They said, "Isn't this the man who hurt Jesus' followers in Jerusalem? Didn't he come here to tie them up? Wasn't he going to take them to the chief priests?"

22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

22But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He showed the Jewish people in Damascus that Jesus is the Christ, the King God promised. They could not argue back.

23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

23After many days went by, some of the Jews there made a plan to kill Saul.

24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

24But Saul found out about their plan. They watched the city gates day and night, waiting to kill him.

25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

25So the followers of Jesus helped him at night. They put him in a big basket. They let him down through an opening in the city wall.

26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

26Saul came to Jerusalem. He tried to join the followers of Jesus there. But they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he was really a follower.

27But 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 he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

27Then Barnabas took him to the apostles, the men Jesus chose to lead. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road. He told them how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He told them how bravely Saul preached about Jesus in Damascus.

28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

28So Saul stayed with them. He came and went all around Jerusalem.

29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

29He spoke bravely about the Lord Jesus. He argued with Jews who spoke Greek. Those men tried to kill him.

30Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

30When the other believers found this out, they took Saul to the city of Caesarea. From there they sent him to Tarsus.

31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

31Then the church had a quiet, peaceful time. Church means all the people who follow Jesus. This was true in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. They grew stronger, and more and more people joined them. They lived with deep respect for the Lord. The Holy Spirit gave them courage.

32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

32Peter traveled all around, visiting God's people. He also came down to God's people living in Lydda.

33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

33There he found a man named Aeneas. His body could not move. He had been lying in bed for eight years.

NoteThe KJV says Aeneas was "sick of the palsy." That means his body was paralyzed, so he could not move it.

34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up and roll up your mat." Aeneas got up right away.

35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

35Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.

36Now 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.

36In the town of Joppa lived a follower named Tabitha. In Greek her name was Dorcas. She was always doing kind things and helping poor people.

37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

37At that time she got sick and died. They washed her body. Then they laid her in a room upstairs.

38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

38Lydda was near Joppa. The followers heard that Peter was in Lydda. They sent two men to ask him, "Please come to us right away."

39Then Peter arose and went with them. 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.

39So Peter got up and went with them. When he came, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him, crying. Widows are women whose husbands have died. They showed him the coats and clothes Dorcas made when she was with them.

40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

40Peter sent everyone out of the room. He knelt down and prayed. Then he turned toward her body and said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.

41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

41He took her hand and helped her stand up. Then he called God's people and the widows in. He showed them that she was alive.

42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

42People all over Joppa heard about this. Many of them believed in the Lord.

43And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

43Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He stayed with a man named Simon, who made leather from animal skins.