Saul's Encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road
Study note
While traveling to Damascus with letters authorizing him to arrest followers of the Way, Saul is suddenly struck by a blinding light from heaven. The risen Jesus speaks to him, identifying himself as the one Saul is persecuting. Saul is left blind and fasting for three days in Damascus, utterly transformed from confident persecutor to helpless dependent.
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still on a rampage against the Lord's followers, threatening to have them arrested and killed. He went to the high priest And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked for official letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found any followers of the Way there -- men or women -- he wanted permission to chain them up and drag them back to Jerusalem. And 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.
3 Saul was getting close to Damascus when all of a sudden, a brilliant light from heaven blazed all around him. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 He crashed to the ground and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me?" And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. The voice answered, "I am Jesus -- the one you are attacking. It is painful for you to fight against me." And 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.
6 Shaking and stunned, Saul asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" The Lord told him, "Get up and go into the city. Someone there will tell you what comes next." And 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.
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there, unable to speak. They heard the sound of a voice, but they could not see anyone. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 Saul picked himself up off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he discovered he was blind. His companions had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. And 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.
9 He could not see for three whole days, and during that time he refused to eat or drink anything. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Ananias Sent to Saul
Study note
God speaks to a disciple named Ananias in a vision, instructing him to go to Saul. Ananias protests, knowing Saul's reputation as a persecutor, but God reveals that Saul is a chosen instrument to carry his name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel, and that he will suffer much for Christ's name. Ananias obeys, lays hands on Saul, and calls him 'Brother.' Saul receives his sight, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and is baptized.
10 There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision: "Ananias!" And Ananias answered, "Yes, Lord, I am here." And 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.
11 The Lord said, "Get up and go to Straight Street. When you reach the house of Judas, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying right now." And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 "Saul has already seen a vision. In it, a man named Ananias comes in and puts his hands on him so he can see again." And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 "Lord," Ananias replied, "I have heard so many stories about this man! He has done terrible things to your followers in Jerusalem." Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 "And he came here with papers from the chief priests that let him arrest everyone who believes in you." And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord told him, "Go anyway, because I have chosen this man for a special mission. He will carry my name to people of other nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel." But 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:
16 "And I will show him how much he will have to suffer for my sake." For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 So Ananias went and found the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus -- the one who appeared to you on the road -- sent me here so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And 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.
18 Right away, something that looked like scales fell off Saul's eyes, and he could see! He stood up and was baptized. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 After eating a meal, his strength came back. Saul spent the next few days with the believers in Damascus. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Saul Preaches in Damascus and Escapes a Plot
Study note
Saul immediately begins preaching in the Damascus synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God, astonishing everyone who knows his history as a persecutor. He grows increasingly powerful in proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days, the Jews plot to kill him, watching the city gates, but the disciples lower Saul through the wall in a basket at night.
20 Almost right away, he went to the synagogues. He started telling everyone that Jesus is the Son of God. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 Everyone who heard him was blown away. "Is this not the same man who was destroying believers in Jerusalem?" they asked. "Did he not come here specifically to arrest people like us and take them to the chief priests?" But 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?
22 But Saul kept getting more and more powerful in his preaching. He made such a convincing case that Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews in Damascus could not argue back. But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 After quite a while, the Jewish leaders hatched a plot to kill Saul. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 Saul found out about their scheme. They were watching the city gates around the clock, waiting for a chance to kill him. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 But one night, his followers lowered him over the city wall in a large basket. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
Study note
When Saul arrives in Jerusalem, the disciples are afraid of him, not believing his conversion is genuine. Barnabas vouches for him, bringing him to the apostles and recounting his Damascus road experience and bold preaching. Saul speaks boldly in Jerusalem but faces death threats from the Grecian Jews, so the brothers send him to Tarsus. The churches throughout the region then enjoy a period of peace and growth.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to connect with the other believers. But everyone was scared of him -- they did not believe he had truly become a follower of Jesus. And 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.
27 Barnabas stepped in and brought Saul to meet the apostles. He told them the whole story -- how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, how the Lord had spoken to him, and how Saul had been fearlessly preaching about Jesus in Damascus. But 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.
28 After that, Saul was welcomed into the group. He moved freely among the believers in Jerusalem. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 He spoke about the Lord Jesus with total confidence and got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews. But they wanted to kill him too. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 When the other believers learned about the danger, they got Saul out of town. They took him to Caesarea and sent him off to his hometown of Tarsus. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 After that, the church across Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria entered a season of peace. The believers grew stronger, lived with deep respect for the Lord, and were encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Their numbers kept increasing. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa 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.
Peter Heals Aeneas in Lydda
Study note
Peter travels to visit believers in Lydda where he finds Aeneas, a man paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter declares that Jesus Christ heals him, and Aeneas immediately gets up. The entire population of Lydda and the Sharon Plain who witness this turn to the Lord.
32 While Peter was traveling from place to place, he went to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33 There he met a man named Aeneas who had been stuck in bed for eight years because he was paralyzed. And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34 "Aeneas," Peter told him, "Jesus Christ is healing you right now. Get up and make your bed." Aeneas got up immediately. And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 When the people of Lydda and Saron saw him walking around, they put their trust in the Lord. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Peter Raises Tabitha in Joppa
Study note
In nearby Joppa, a beloved disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas), known for her charitable works, dies. The disciples send urgently for Peter, who comes and finds the widows mourning and showing the clothing Tabitha had made for them. Peter sends everyone out, prays, and commands her to arise. She opens her eyes and Peter presents her alive to the saints and widows. News spreads throughout Joppa and many believe in the Lord.
36 Over in the town of Joppa, there was a believer named Tabitha (her Greek name was Dorcas). She spent all her time doing kind things for people and helping the poor. Now 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.
37 During that time, she got sick and died. They washed her body and placed it in an upstairs room. And 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.
38 Lydda was near Joppa. When the believers heard Peter was there, they quickly sent two men to him. The message said, "Please come right away!" And 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.
39 Peter went with them immediately. When he got there, they took him upstairs. The room was full of widows, all crying. They kept showing him the clothing Dorcas had made for them while she was alive. Then 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.
40 Peter asked everyone to leave the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. But 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.
41 Peter reached out his hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called in the believers and the widows and showed them that she was alive. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 News about this spread all over Joppa, and many people put their trust in the Lord. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43 Peter stayed in Joppa for a while, living at the home of a man named Simon who worked as a leather maker. And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.