| 9:1 |
Now Saul, still breathing threats and beatings against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, |
| 9:2 |
and he petitioned him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that, if he found any men or women belonging to this Way, he could lead them as prisoners to Jerusalem. |
| 9:3 |
And as he made the journey, it happened that he was approaching Damascus. And suddenly, a light from heaven shone around him. |
| 9:4 |
And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” |
| 9:5 |
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.” |
| 9:6 |
And he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” |
| 9:7 |
And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do.” Now the men who were accompanying him were standing stupefied, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no one. |
| 9:8 |
Then Saul rose up from the ground. And upon opening his eyes, he saw nothing. So leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. |
| 9:9 |
And in that place, he was without sight for three days, and he neither ate nor drank. |
| 9:10 |
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” |
| 9:11 |
And the Lord said to him: “Rise up and go into the street that is called Straight, and seek, in the house of Judas, the one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying.” |
| 9:12 |
(And Paul saw a man named Ananias entering and imposing hands upon him, so that he might receive his sight.) |
| 9:13 |
But Ananias responded: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. |
| 9:14 |
And he has authority here from the leaders of the priests to bind all who invoke your name.” |
| 9:15 |
Then the Lord said to him: “Go, for this one is an instrument chosen by me to convey my name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel. |
| 9:16 |
For I will reveal to him how much he must suffer on behalf of my name.” |
| 9:17 |
And Ananias departed. And he entered the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, he who appeared to you on the way by which you arrived, sent me so that you would receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” |
| 9:18 |
And immediately, it was as if scales had fallen from his eyes, and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. |
| 9:19 |
And when he had taken a meal, he was strengthened. Now he was with the disciples who were at Damascus for some days. |
| 9:20 |
And he was continuously preaching Jesus in the synagogues: that he is the Son of God. |
