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BOOK 44 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Acts 9

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Acts 9 Overview

Saul travels toward Damascus intending to arrest believers, but the risen Jesus confronts him in heavenly light: ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?’ Blinded and humbled, Saul is led into the city, where Ananias is sent to him. Saul regains sight, is baptized, and immediately preaches that Jesus is the Son of God. After escape from plots against his life and acceptance by the Jerusalem believers through Barnabas, the narrative returns to Peter healing Aeneas and raising Dorcas.

ActsBook
9Chapter
43Verses
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Before you read Acts 9

Coming from

Saul’s persecution scatters believers, but they preach wherever they go. Philip brings the gospel and signs to Samaria, where many believe and are baptized. Peter and John come from Jerusalem, pray for the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Ghost in this transitional setting, and rebuke Simon for trying to buy apostolic power. Philip is then sent to an Ethiopian eunuch, explains Isaiah 53 as speaking of Jesus, and baptizes him after his confession of faith.

In this chapter

Acts 8 introduced Saul as the violent persecutor whose actions scattered the church. Acts 9 shows Christ personally arresting the persecutor and turning him into a witness.

Leads into

Acts 10 opens the door unmistakably to uncircumcised Gentiles through Cornelius, Peter’s vision, the preaching of forgiveness through faith, and the Holy Ghost falling before water baptism.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Saul’s conversion centers on encountering and recognizing the risen Jesus. Acts later retells the event from Saul/Paul’s own testimony, adding details relevant to each audience.

Ananias’s role demonstrates ordinary obedient discipleship: he fears Saul for good reason yet goes because the Lord sends him.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Jesus identifies with His persecuted people

To persecute Christians is described as persecuting Christ Himself.

Grace can transform a violent opponent into a witness

Saul moves rapidly from destroyer to preacher of Jesus as Son of God.

Conversion does not remove all consequences or danger

Saul immediately faces suspicion, threats, and plots.

God uses less famous believers in major moments

Ananias and Barnabas play crucial roles in Saul’s early Christian life.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Acts 22:1–16

Paul later recounts the Damascus encounter to a Jewish audience.

Acts 26:9–20

Before Agrippa, Paul again explains his conversion and commission.

Galatians 1:11–24

Paul emphasizes that his gospel and apostolic calling came through revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 1:12–16

Paul later points to his former persecution and received mercy as a display of Christ’s longsuffering.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make Saul’s temporary blindness a required conversion pattern

It is part of his unique apostolic encounter.

Do not use Ananias’s baptism command in Acts 22 to overturn the belief-centered gospel taught throughout Acts and Paul’s letters

Baptism publicly identifies the converted persecutor with Christ; it is not a meritorious payment for sin.

Do not romanticize Saul’s immediate ministry as effortless

The chapter records danger, distrust, and dependence on other believers.

Do not treat Peter’s miracles as independent power

The healing language explicitly centers Jesus Christ.

Read Acts 9 watching for…

Saul’s purpose before the heavenly encounter.

Jesus’ identification with persecuted believers.

Ananias’s fears and obedience.

Saul’s immediate message about Jesus.

Barnabas’s role in Jerusalem.

Peter’s miracles and their effect on wider belief.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline4 sections
1-9Saul meets the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and is left blind10-19Ananias is sent to Saul, who receives sight, is baptized, and is strengthened20-31Saul preaches Jesus as the Son of God and escapes plots against his life32-43Peter heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead
1

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2

And 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.

3

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5

And 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.

6

And 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.

7

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8

And 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.

9

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10

And 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.

11

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15

But 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:

16

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17

And 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.

18

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21

But 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?

22

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26

And 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.

27

But 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.

28

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31

Then 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.

32

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33

And there he found a certain man named AEneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34

And Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36

Now 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.

37

And 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.

38

And 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.

39

Then 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.

40

But 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.

41

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

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Acts 9:29

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