Lockman - Bible questions and answers

		Acts 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,
		Acts 9:2 and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.
		Acts 9:3 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];
		Acts 9:4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?"
		Acts 9:5 And Saul said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He answered, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
		Acts 9:6 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
		Acts 9:7 The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
		Acts 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
		Acts 9:9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.
		Acts 9:10 ¶ Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he answered, "Here I am, Lord."
		Acts 9:11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there],
		Acts 9:12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight."
		Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much suffering and evil he has brought on Your saints (God's people) at Jerusalem;
		Acts 9:14 and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior]."
		Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
		Acts 9:16 for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name's sake."
		Acts 9:17 So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles]."
		Acts 9:18 Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized;
		Acts 9:19 and he took some food and was strengthened. For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.
		Acts 9:20 ¶ And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This Man is the Son of God [the promised Messiah]!"
		Acts 9:21 All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?"
		Acts 9:22 But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence] and proving [with Scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
		Acts 9:23 ¶ After considerable time had passed [about three years or so], the Jews plotted together to kill him,
		Acts 9:24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city's gates day and night so they could kill him;
		Acts 9:25 but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
		Acts 9:26 ¶ When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
		Acts 9:27 However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.
		Acts 9:28 So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
		Acts 9:29 He was talking and arguing with the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.
		Acts 9:30 When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].
		Acts 9:31 ¶ So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
		Acts 9:32 ¶ Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the saints (God's people) who lived at Lydda.
		Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.
		Acts 9:34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." Immediately Aeneas got up.
		Acts 9:35 Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.
		Acts 9:36 ¶ Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.
		Acts 9:37 During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.
		Acts 9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Come to us without delay."
		Acts 9:39 So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
		Acts 9:40 But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise!" And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
		Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the saints (God's people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.
		Acts 9:42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].
		Acts 9:43 And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.

Search for your Bible question and answer here: