Acts 9 | OET

This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

(Acts 22:6-16; 26:12-18)

9 Meanwhile Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos /Saul) was still spouting off murderous threats towards the followers of the master. He went to the chief priest 2 and obtained official letters to enable him to enter the Jewish meeting halls (Grk. synagogues) in Damesek (Damascus) so that if he found either male or female followers of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), he could arrest them and bring them to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) in chains.

3 On his journey as he approached Damesek, suddenly light from the sky flashed around him. 4 He dropped to his knees[fn] and heard a voice calling, “Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, master?” he asked.

And the voice replied, “I’m Yeshua, the one that you’re persecuting. 6 Now, stand up and go into the city, and you’ll be told there what you need to do.”

7 Meanwhile his travelling companions had stood there speechless, because they’d heard the voice but couldn’t see anyone. 8 They helped Sha’ul up from the ground, but even when he opened his eyes, he couldn’t see anything. So they had to lead him into Damesek by hand. 9 Sha’ul stayed there for three days, unable to see and not eating or drinking anything.

9:4 It seems most likely that Paul and company were walking to Damascus (and not on horseback despite paintings by Caravaggio and others). The journey of somewhere around 300km would have taken around two weeks.

9 But the Saulos/(Shāʼūl), still breathing of _threat and murder toward the apprentices/followers of _the master, having _approached to _the chief _priest,

2 he _requested letters from him to the synagogues into Damaskos/(Dammeseq), so _that if he _may _find any of _the way, being both men and women, having _been _bound he _may _bring them to Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim).

3 And in the time to _be _going, it _became him to _be _nearing to_ the _Damaskos, and suddenly a_light from the sky.
flashed _around.
him.

4 And having _fallen on the ground, he _heard a_voice saying to _him:
Saulos, Saulos, why are _you _persecuting me?

5 And he _said:
Who are _you, master?
and_ He _said:
I am Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), whom you are _persecuting,

6 but rise _up and come _in into the city, and it _will _be _being _spoken to _you what something it _is _fitting you to _be _doing.

7 And the men who travelling _with with _him had _stood speechless, hearing on _one _hand of _the voice, on _the _other _hand observing no _one.

8 And Saulos was _raised from the ground, and the eyes of _him having _been _opened _up he _was _seeing nothing.
And leading_ him _by _hand, they _brought _in him to Damaskos.

9 And he _was three days not seeing, and neither he _ate nor he _drank.

9:10 Hananyah restores Sha’ul’s sight

10 Now there was a believer there in Damesek (Damascus) named Hananyah (Ananias; Grk. Hananias), and the master spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Hananyah.”

“I’m here, master,” he answered.

11 So the master told him, “Get up and go to Yehudah’ (Judas; Grk. Yudas) house in Straight Street where you’ll find a man named Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos /Saul) from Tarsos. He’s praying right now 12 and in his vision, he saw a man named Hananyah who comes in and places his hands on him so that he can receive his sight back.”

13 But Hananyah resisted, “Master, I’ve heard a lot about that man, including all the evil things he’s done to your dedicated people in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), 14 and the reason he’s here in Damesek with the authority of the chief priests is to arrest everyone who trusts in you.”

15 But the master said, “Go now, because I’ve chosen that man to be a bearer of my name and authority both in other countries, even to their kings, and to the descendants of Yisrael (Israel), 16 because I’ll be showing him what he’s going to have to suffer for bearing my name.”

17 So Hananyah left and went into Yehudah’ house where he placed his hands on Sha’ul and said, “Brother Sha’ul, the master has sent me here—Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the one you saw on the road when you were coming here—so that you’ll be able to see again and also be filled with the holy spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell off Sha’ul’s eyes and he was able to see again, and he got up and got immersed in water,

10 And was a_certain apprentice/follower in Damaskos by_the_name Ananias, and the master said to him in a_vision:
Ananias.
And he said:
Behold, it _is I, master.

11 And the master said to him:
Having _risen _up, be _gone in the street which being _called Straight, and seek Saulos/(Shāʼūl) by_the_name from _Tarsos in the_house of _Youdas/(Yəhūdāh), because/for see, he _is _praying

12 and he _saw a_man in a_vision, by_the_name Ananias, having _come _in and having _put _on his_hands on _him, so _that he _may _receive _sight.

13 And Ananias answered:
master, I _heard from many concerning the this man, as _much _as he _did evil to _the holy ones of _you, in Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim),

14 and here he _is _having authority from the chief _priests, to _bind all which calling the name of _you.

15 But the master said to him:
Be _going, because this man is a_vessel of _choice to _me, which to _bear the name of _me both before the pagans also kings, and the_sons of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl),

16 for/because I will _be _showing to _him as _much _as it _is _fitting him to _suffer for/because the name of _me.

17 And Ananias went _away and came _in into the house, and having _laid _on on him his hands he _said:
Saulos, brother, the master has _sent _out me Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), the one having _been _seen by _you on the road in _which you _were _coming, so _that you _may _receive _sight and may _be _filled with_the_ holy _spirit.

18 And immediately fell _away something of _him from the eyes like scales, and, he _received _sight, and having _risen _up he _was _immersed,

19 before getting something to eat to renew his strength.

9:19b Sha’ul starts preaching in Damesek

Then Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) stayed several days with the believers in Damesek (Damascus). 20 He went straight into the Jewish meeting halls and started proclaiming that Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) is God’s son.

21 The hearers were all amazed, saying, “Isn’t this the guy that persecuted the ones following that Yeshua in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and even came to Damesek to arrest them here and take them back to the chief priests?”

22 But Sha’ul was growing stronger[fn] and he was confounding the Yehudim (Jews) living in Damesek as he taught them that Yeshua is the promised messiah.

23 After several days, the religious Yehudim plotted together to kill him,[ref] 24 but Sha’ul found out about their plan. Those Yehudim were also watching the city exits so they could kill him if he tried leaving, 25 but his supporters took him to the city wall at night time and lowered him down in a basket.

9:22 It’s not clear here whether it means that Saul was growing physically stronger, or that his preaching and debating skills were improving.

9:23-25: 2Cor 11:32-33.

19 and having _taken food, was _strengthened.
And he _became some days with the apprentices/followers in Damaskos/(Dammeseq).

20 And immediately in the synagogues, he _was _proclaiming the Yaʸsous that this one is the son of_ the _god.

21 And all were _marvelling which hearing, and they _were _saying:
Is not this the one having _persecuted the ones calling the this name in, Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim), and here for this he _had _come, in _order _that having _been _bound, he _may _bring them to the chief _priests?

22 But Saulos/(Shāʼūl) was _being_ more _strengthened, and was _confounding Youdaiōns which dwelling in Damaskos, teaching that this one is the chosen _one /messiah.

23 And when many days were _being _fulfilled, the Youdaiōns plotted _together to _kill him,

24 but the plot of _them was _known to_ the _Saulos.
and They _were _watching _closely also the gates both day and night, so _that they _may _kill him,

25 and the apprentices/followers of _him having _taken him by _night through the wall, they _let_ him _down, having _lowered him in a_basket.

9:26 Sha’ul goes to Yerushalem but has to leave

26 When he got back to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) attempted to join in with the believers there but they were all scared of him, not believing that he was a true follower of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus). 27 However Barnabas took Sha’ul and brought him to the twelve, and Sha’ul told them how he had seen the master on the road, and been spoken to by him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damesek (Damascus) in the name and authority of Yeshua. 28 So Sha’ul stayed connected with the believers, going in and out of Yerushalem and speaking boldly in the name and authority of the master. 29 He also talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Yehudim (Jews), but they wanted to kill him, 30 so when the brothers found out, they took Sha’ul down to Kaisareia on the coast, and from there sent him on a ship to Tarsos.

31 After that the assemblies[fn] of believers throughout Yehudah (Judea) and Galil and Shomron (Samaria) had peace and grew in their respect and service of the master, as well as increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the holy spirit.

9:31 Lit. ‘assembly’ (singular). Jonathan Leeman in ‘One Assembly’ makes a good case that the force of κατά ‘throughout’ contributes to making the force of ἐκκλησία plural in this sentence (similar to Luke’s use in Luke 4:14, 23:5, Acts 9:42, 10:37).