Acts 9:1-19
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against
the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for
letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there
who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey,
suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the
ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
5 "Who
are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the
city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men
traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but
did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened
his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into
Damascus . 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink
anything.
10 In
Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him
in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight
Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his
hands on him to restore his sight."
13
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports
about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in
Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief
priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord
said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry
my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of
Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 Then
Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul,
he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on
the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see
again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately,
something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he
regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in
Damascus. (NIV) [Also Acts 22:3-16; Acts 26:9-18]
