The Daily Audio Bible

While Saul Is Going To Damascus To Persecute Believers, Jesus Appears To Him

9 Now Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the high priest, ² asked-for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any being of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ And during the proceeding, it came about that he was drawing-near to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven flashed-around him. ⁴ And having fallen on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, sir^[a]?” And the One said, “I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. ⁶ But arise and enter into the city, and it will be told you what thing you must do”. ⁷ And the men traveling-with him were standing speechless^[b], hearing the voice^[c] but seeing no one. ⁸ And Saul was raised^[d] from the ground. And his eyes having been opened, he was seeing nothing. And hand-leading him, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was not seeing for three days. And he did not eat nor drink.

God Tells Ananias To Go Give Saul His Sight, For He Is God’s Chosen Instrument

¹⁰ Now a certain disciple was in Damascus— Ananias by name. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias”. And the one said, “Behold, I am here, Lord”. ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Having arisen, go on the lane being called ‘Straight’, and seek one-from-Tarsus, Saul by name, in the house of Judas. For behold— he is praying. ¹² And he saw a man in a vision, Ananias by name, having come in and laid hands on him so that he might see-again”. ¹³ And Ananias responded, “Lord, I heard about this man from many— how many bad things he did to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all the ones calling-upon Your name”. ¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Go, because this one is a chosen instrument^[e] for Me— that he might carry My name before both Gentiles and kings, and sons of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how-many things he must suffer for My name”. ¹⁷ And Ananias departed, and entered into the house. And having laid his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me forth— Jesus, the One having appeared to you on the road on which you were coming— so that you may see-again and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. ¹⁸ And immediately something like scales^[f] fell from his eyes. And he saw-again^[g], and having arisen, was baptized. ¹⁹ And having taken food, he strengthened.

Saul Begins Proclaiming Christ In Damascus. He Escapes a Plot To Kill Him

Now he came-to-be with the disciples in Damascus for some days. ²⁰ And immediately he was proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues— that this One is the Son of God. ²¹ And all the ones hearing were astonished, and were saying, “Is not this the one having destroyed in Jerusalem the ones calling-upon this name? And he had come here for this— that he might bring them bound to the chief priests!” ²² And Saul was becoming more strong. And he was confounding^[h] the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ. ²³ And when considerable days were being fulfilled, the Jews plotted to kill him. ²⁴ But their plot was known by Saul. And they were even closely-watching the gates both by day and by night so that they might kill him. ²⁵ But his disciples, having taken him by night, let him down through the wall, having lowered^[i] him in a large-basket.