Acts 9King James Version
Saul, breathing out threatenings, is on the road to Damascus. Suddenly there shines round about him a light from heaven. He falls to the earth: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Who art thou, Lord? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. He is led blind into Damascus. Three days. Ananias is sent to him: he is a chosen vessel unto me. Saul is baptized. He immediately begins to preach Christ in the synagogues. The Jews plot to kill him. The disciples let him down by night through the wall in a basket.
Saul travels to Damascus with letters authorizing him to arrest Christians when a blinding light stops him. Jesus speaks from the light: why are you persecuting me? Saul is led blind into Damascus. Ananias is told to go find him; he objects, knowing Saul's reputation, but goes. Saul's sight returns, he is baptized, and immediately begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. Jews plot to kill him; he escapes Damascus in a basket. Peter heals Aeneas in Lydda and raises Dorcas from the dead in Joppa.
The man most violently opposed to the church becomes its most relentless advocate, and the same Jesus who was crucified speaks from heaven to stop his chief persecutor.
4: "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" The identification of Jesus with his persecuted people is the theological core of the entire encounter.
Damascus was the capital of the Roman province of Syria, about 135 miles north of Jerusalem. The Damascus road was a well-traveled route through semi-arid highlands. Saul was traveling with a group, carrying legal authority to extradite Christians back to Jerusalem. The light struck at midday, when the sun was already intense. He was blind for three days, neither eating nor drinking. Straight Street, where Ananias found him, still exists in Damascus today.
Saul of Tarsus, struck blind; the risen Jesus, speaking from light; Ananias, obedient despite fear; Barnabas, who vouches for Saul in Jerusalem; Aeneas, healed; Dorcas, raised from death.
The conversion of Saul is one of the most consequential events in Christian history, and Acts tells it three times (here, chapter 22, chapter 26). Paul's letters (written before Acts) confirm the basic outline. The Dorcas resurrection in Joppa sets up Peter's next chapter, since Simon the tanner in whose house Peter stays becomes the scene of the Cornelius vision. Luke weaves these threads carefully.
For when the person you least expected shows up changed, and you do not trust it yet. Ananias was afraid to go. The church in Jerusalem was skeptical. Saul was the last candidate anyone would have chosen. That is the point.
1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2And 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.
3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8And 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.
9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10And 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.
11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15But 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:
16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17And 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.
18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21But 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?
22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26And 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.
27But 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.
28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea 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.
32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36Now 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.
37And 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.
38And 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.
39Then 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.
40But 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.
41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.