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The
Conversion of Saul |
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Acts 9:1
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Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, |
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Acts 9:2
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and asked for letters from him to the synagogues
at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women,
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. |
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Acts 9:3
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As he was traveling, it happened that he was
approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; |
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Acts 9:4
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and he fell to the ground and heard a voice
saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" |
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Acts 9:5
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And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said,
"I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, |
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Acts 9:6
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but get up and enter the
city, and it will be told you what you must do." |
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Acts 9:7
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The men who traveled with him stood speechless,
hearing the voice but seeing no one. |
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Acts 9:8
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Saul got up from the ground, and though his
eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought
him into Damascus. |
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Acts 9:9
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And he was three days without sight, and neither
ate nor drank. |
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Acts 9:10
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Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias;
and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."
And he said, "Here I am, Lord." |
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Acts 9:11
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And the Lord said to him, "Get
up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for
a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, |
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Acts 9:12
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and he has seen in a vision
a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain
his sight." |
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Acts 9:13
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But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from
many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; |
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Acts 9:14
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and here he has authority from the chief priests
to bind all who call on Your name." |
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Acts 9:15
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But the Lord said to him, "Go,
for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and
kings and the sons of Israel; |
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Acts 9:16
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for I will show him how
much he must suffer for My name's sake." |
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Acts 9:17
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So Ananias departed and entered the house, and
after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared
to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." |
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Acts 9:18
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And immediately there fell from his eyes something
like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; |
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Acts 9:19
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and he took food and was strengthened. |
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Saul Begins to Preach Christ |
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Now for several days he was with the disciples
who were at Damascus, |
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Acts 9:20
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and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in
the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." |
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Acts 9:21
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All those hearing him continued to be amazed,
and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on
this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before
the chief priests?" |
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Acts 9:22
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But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding
the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. |
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Acts 9:23
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When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted
together to do away with him, |
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Acts 9:24
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but their plot became known to Saul. They were
also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; |
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Acts 9:25
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but his disciples took him by night and let
him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. |
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Acts 9:26
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When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to
associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that
he was a disciple. |
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Acts 9:27
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But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him
to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and
that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the
name of Jesus. |
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Acts 9:28
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And he was with them, moving about freely in
Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. |
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Acts 9:29
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And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic
Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. |
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Acts 9:30
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But when the brethren learned of it, they brought
him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. |
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Acts 9:31
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So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee
and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. |
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Peter's Ministry |
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Acts 9:32
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Now as Peter was traveling through all those
regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. |
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Acts 9:33
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There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been
bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. |
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Acts 9:34
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Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals
you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up. |
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Acts 9:35
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And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him,
and they turned to the Lord. |
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Acts 9:36
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Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha
(which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds
of kindness and charity which she continually did. |
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Acts 9:37
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And it happened at that time that she fell sick
and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. |
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Acts 9:38
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Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having
heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay
in coming to us." |
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Acts 9:39
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So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived,
they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping
and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was
with them. |
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Acts 9:40
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But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and
prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her
eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. |
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Acts 9:41
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And he gave her his hand and raised her up;
and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. |
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Acts 9:42
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It became known all over Joppa, and many believed
in the Lord. |
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Acts 9:43
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And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner
named Simon. |
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