1But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”
7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
8Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”
11The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
21All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
22But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,
24but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28He was with them entering into Jerusalem,
29preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
30When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
35All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
37In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Acts 9 records the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Christianity's most notorious persecutor, who encounters the risen Christ on the Damascus road and is transformed into the church's greatest missionary. Through Ananias's obedient ministry, Saul receives sight and the Holy Spirit, immediately beginning to preach Christ in the synagogues of Damascus. The chapter concludes with Peter's miraculous healings in Lydda and Joppa, including raising Tabitha from the dead, demonstrating the apostolic power continuing to advance the gospel.
Context
This pivotal chapter follows Stephen's martyrdom and the subsequent persecution, introducing Saul's conversion which will dominate the remainder of Acts as Paul becomes the apostle to the Gentiles.
Key Themes
Outline
Saul, persecutor of Christians, encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, is blinded, and after three days is healed by Ananias. Jesus calls Saul as his chosen vessel to bear his name before nations and kings.
person_contrast
Saul transforms from "breathing threats and slaughter" to receiving divine calling and healing touch, reversing his typical biblical association with judgment and authority.
Saul immediately begins preaching Christ in Damascus, confounding the Jews and facing persecution. After escaping to Jerusalem with Barnabas's help, he continues preaching boldly before being sent to Tarsus for safety.
person_contrast
Saul's transformation from persecutor to proclaimer creates a stunning reversal where his former reputation as destroyer becomes his greatest credential for authenticity.
Peter performs two miraculous healings: he heals the paralyzed Aeneas in Lydda and raises Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead in Joppa. Both miracles lead many to believe in the Lord.
person_contrast
Peter's command "Jesus Christ heals you" in verse 34 uniquely attributes healing power directly to Christ's name rather than invoking prayer, distinguishing this miracle from typical apostolic healing formulas.
Acts 9:2
Acts 22:5lexicalas also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, an…
Acts 25:3lexicalasking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.
Romans 7:2lexicalFor the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharg…
1 Corinthians 7:39lexicalA wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomev…
Acts 22:4lexicalI persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
Acts 9:3
Acts 22:6lexical“As I made my journey and came close to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
Matthew 10:7lexicalAs you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
Acts 9:4
Acts 22:7lexicalI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Acts 26:14lexicalWhen we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you perse…
Luke 8:8lexicalSome fell into the good ground and grew and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he calle…
Acts 9:7
Acts 17:22lexicalPaul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all th…
Acts 2:14lexicalBut Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwe…
Acts 27:21lexicalWhen they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to m…
Revelation 10:8lexicalThe voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the a…
John 3:29lexicalHe who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly bec…
Acts 9:8
John 9:21lexicalbut how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for hims…
Acts 22:11lexicalWhen I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
Revelation 5:3lexicalNo one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it.
Acts 9:11
Luke 24:13lexicalBehold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.
Luke 1:31lexicalBehold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’
Luke 19:2lexicalThere was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
Matthew 1:23lexical“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, be…
Acts 9:12
Acts 5:1lexicalBut a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 10:3lexicalAt about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Corneli…
Acts 10:17lexicalNow while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sen…
Luke 8:41lexicalBehold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come int…
Acts 9:13
Acts 21:11lexicalComing to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at J…
Revelation 21:2lexicalI saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
John 18:23lexicalJesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”
Acts 9:14
Acts 22:5lexicalas also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, an…
Acts 26:10lexicalI also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief pri…
Acts 9:15
Matthew 28:19lexicalGo and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Acts 4:10lexicalmay it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you cruc…
John 12:13lexicalthey took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in t…
Acts 4:27lexical“For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against yo…
Revelation 2:14lexicalBut I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to th…
Acts 9:17
Matthew 10:5lexicalJesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of t…
Acts 8:17lexicalThen they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:19lexicalsaying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 19:6lexicalWhen Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
Acts 22:13lexicalcame to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.
Acts 9:21
Acts 22:5lexicalas also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, an…
Acts 21:13lexicalThen Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to…
Acts 5:21lexicalWhen they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were wit…
Acts 9:25
Luke 5:5lexicalSimon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”
2 Corinthians 11:33lexicalI was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Acts 9:27
Acts 13:46lexicalPaul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since ind…
Mark 5:16lexicalThose who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
Acts 17:19lexicalThey took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which you are sp…
Acts 5:40lexicalThey agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and l…
Acts 9:31
Acts 1:8lexicalBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Jude…
Luke 1:65lexicalFear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea…
Acts 10:37lexicalyou yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism…
Luke 23:5lexicalBut they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this p…
Luke 4:14lexicalJesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area.
Acts 9:38
Acts 11:13lexicalHe told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is calle…
Luke 9:32lexicalNow Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the…
Acts 10:17lexicalNow while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sen…
Luke 19:29lexicalWhen he came near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,
Mark 11:1lexicalWhen they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
Acts 9:40
Acts 21:5lexicalWhen those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way…
Luke 22:41lexicalHe was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
Acts 20:36lexicalWhen he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Luke 4:29lexicalThey rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they mig…
Luke 5:8lexicalBut Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
Acts 9:41
Romans 12:1lexicalTherefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Go…
Revelation 20:4lexicalI saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for…
Acts 9:43
Acts 10:32lexicalSend therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon,…
Acts 10:6lexicalHe is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
John 1:39lexicalHe said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about…
Acts 21:7lexicalWhen we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day…
John 4:40lexicalSo when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.
Word-by-word original language
Places and events in this chapter