1
Meanwhile Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest,

2
and asked him for letters of authority to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way of the Lord, he might seize them and bring them to Jerusalem.

3
As he was traveling to Damascus, and was near the city, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

4
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

5
Saul answered, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6
But rise and go into the city, and there it will be told you what you must do.”

7
His companions on the journey stood speechless, for they heard the voice, but saw no one.

8
Saul rose from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand into Damascus.

9
For three days he could not see, and for three days he neither ate nor drank.

10
Now there was in Damascus a disciple of the Lord named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias!” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord!”

11
The Lord said, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For behold, he is praying,

12
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”

13
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.

16
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.”

17
So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me to you so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18
At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.

19
And after he had eaten, his strength returned.

(9-19b) Saul stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus.

20
At once he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying that Jesus is the Son of God.

21
All who heard it were amazed and said, “Is not this the man in Jerusalem who sought to destroy all who called on this name? And did he not come here for the purpose of taking them captive and bringing them before the chief priests?”

22
But Saul increased all the more in power, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

23
After some days the Jews plotted together to kill Saul.

24
But their evil plan became known to Saul. Day and night they watched the city gates, so that they might kill him.

25
Nevertheless, one night his disciples took him and let him down over the city wall in a basket.

26
When he came to Jerusalem, Saul tried to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they could not believe that he was also a disciple.

27
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, and that the Lord had spoken with him, and how boldly he had preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28
And Saul remained with them in Jerusalem, and spoke boldly in the name of the Lord.

29
He also spoke and disputed with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.

30
But when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and from there sent him off to Tarsus.

31
So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace for a time. It was built up and lived in the fear of the Lord. Its number increased greatly through the help and encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

32
Now it came about that Peter went about from place to place, making visits. In the course of his travels he also came to the saints in Lydda.

33
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.

34
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed!” And immediately he rose.

35
All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36
Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha — in Greek, Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of charity.

37
But at that time she became sick and died. And after she had been washed, her body was laid in the upper room.

38
Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him with the request: “Come to us at once.”

39
So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived there, he was brought to the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing him all the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she was still alive.

40
But Peter put them all outside, and he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said: “Tabitha, arise!” Then Tabitha opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41
Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the saints and the widows, and presented her to them alive.

42
This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

43
After that Peter stayed many days in Joppa, at the house of a man named Simon, a tanner.

📖 Acts 9 – The Conversion of Saul and the Ministry of Peter

🧾 Summary of Acts 9

This chapter is very important because it records the conversion of Saul (later becoming Paul), the great enemy of the church who became its greatest apostle. In addition, it also tells of two great miracles performed by Peter.

Main sequence of events:

1. Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus
2. Saul’s early ministry and the threat against him
3. Peter’s ministry: healing and raising the dead

✨ Explanation of the Content

1. Saul’s conversion (verses 1–19a)

• Saul, full of zeal, wanted to destroy the Christians and received permission from the high priest to arrest them in Damascus.
• On the journey, Jesus appeared in a light from heaven, and Saul fell to the ground.

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
— Acts 9:4

• Saul became blind for three days.
• The Lord sent Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to pray for Saul. After that, Saul could see and was baptized.

2. Early Ministry and Threats Against Saul (verses 19b–31)

• Saul began to preach boldly in Damascus, confusing the Jews.
• Because of this, they plotted to kill him, but the disciples helped him escape by lowering him from the city wall.
• In Jerusalem, the disciples were afraid to receive Saul because of his past, but Barnabas defended him and introduced him.
• Once again, Saul faced a threat of death, and he was sent away to Tarsus.

The church experienced peace, growth, and encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

3. Peter’s Ministry: Aeneas and Tabitha (verses 32–43)

• Peter healed Aeneas, who had been paralyzed for eight years in Lydda:

“Jesus Christ heals you. Rise and make your bed!”

• Many people believed in the Lord.
• In Joppa, a female disciple named Tabitha (also called Dorcas) died.
• Peter was invited to come, and after praying, he said:

“Tabitha, arise!” — and she came back to life.

• This event led many in Joppa to believe in the Lord. Peter stayed at the house of Simon, a tanner.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 9

1. God’s grace is able to turn an enemy into His servant.
2. The risen Jesus is living and truly present—He Himself met Saul.
3. The obedience of ordinary disciples like Ananias has great impact.
4. The acceptance of the church community is important for the growth of new believers.
5. The power of the Lord worked through His servants to heal, raise up, and bless.
6. Peter showed leadership full of power and compassion.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 9

• No one is too far beyond the reach of God’s love and grace.
• True repentance brings about a changed life and service.
• We must dare to trust and receive those whom God has changed, even if their past was dark.
• Prayer and small acts of obedience, like those of Ananias, can bear great fruit.
• The Lord works through His church to bring healing and new life—spiritually and physically.