MSB ACTs Chapter 9

The Road to Damascus

(Acts 22:1–21, Acts 26:1–23)

Meanwhile, Saul {was} still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest 2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men [or] women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

[As] [Saul] drew near to 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?”

“Who are You, Lord?” [Saul] asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” replied the Lord.[fn] 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with [Saul] stood [there] speechless. They heard the voice but did not see [anyone]. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see [a thing].[fn] [So] they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 [For] three days he was without sight, and vvv he did not eat [or] drink [anything].

Ananias Baptizes Saul

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision,“Ananias!”

“Here I [am], Lord,” he answered.

“Get up!” 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[fn] he has seen [a man] named Ananias come and place a hand[fn] on him to restore his sight.”

But Ananias answered,“Lord, vvv many [people] have told me about this man [and] all [the] harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And now [he is] here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

“Go!” said the Lord 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.”

[So] Ananias went to the house, and [when] he arrived he placed [his] hands on [Saul].“Brother Saul,” he said,“the Lord,[fn] 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.”

At that instant, [something] like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and his sight was restored.[fn] He got up [and] was baptized, 19 and after taking [some] food, he regained his strength. And Saul[fn] spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Saul Preaches at Damascus

vvv [Saul] promptly began to proclaim Christ[fn] in the synagogues, [ declaring ],“He is the Son of God.”

All who heard [him] were astounded and asked,“Isn’t this the [man who] wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those [who] call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that [Jesus] is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night vvv they watched the [city] gates in order to kill him. 25 One night, however, the disciples[fn] took [him] [and] lowered [him] in a basket through [ a window ] in the wall.[fn]

Saul in Jerusalem

[When] Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, [but] vvv they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 Then Barnabas vvv vvv brought [him] to the apostles and described how [Saul] had seen the Lord, [who] had spoken to him on the road [to Damascus], and how [Saul] had spoken boldly in [that city] in the name of Jesus.[fn]

[So] [Saul] stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem [and] speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.[fn] 29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews,[fn] but they tried to kill him. 30 [When] the brothers learned of [this], they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

Then the churches[fn] throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced [a time of] peace. They grew in strength[fn] and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

As Peter traveled throughout [the area], vvv he went to [visit] the saints [in] Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed [and] bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him,“Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat Immediately [Aeneas] got up, 35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him [and] turned to the Lord.

The Raising of Tabitha

(John 11:38–44)

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas),[fn] who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. 37 At that time, however, vvv she became sick [and] died, and her body was washed [and] placed in an upper room.[fn] 38 [Since] Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was vvv [there], sent[fn] to urge him,“Come to them[fn] without delay.”

[So] Peter got up [and] went with them. vvv On his arrival, they took [him] to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing [him] [the] tunics and [other] clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down [and] prayed, and turning toward [her] body, he said,“Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 [Peter] took her by the hand [and] helped her up Then he called the saints and widows [and] presented her [to them] alive.

[This] became known all over Joppa, and many [people] believed in the Lord. 43 And [Peter] stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner [named] Simon.