MODERN LITERAL VERSION

9:1 But Saul, still breathing threatening and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having come to the high-priest,
9:2 asked from him letters *for Damascus to the synagogues, *that if he found anyone, who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

9:3 But it happened as he went on, when he drew near to Damascus; suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,
9:4 and he fell upon the earth and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

9:5 And he said, Who are you, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. {F} It is hard for you to kick the cattle-prods.

9:6 And trembling and amazed, he said, What do you wish me to do?
And the Lord said to him, But stand up and enter into the city and it will be told to you what it is essential for you to do.

9:7 And the men traveling together with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice, but viewing no one.
9:8 And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing, but leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9:9 And he was there three days not seeing and did neither eat nor drink.

9:10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias .
And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

9:11 And the Lord said to him, Stand up and go to the lane which is called Straight and seek the one named Saul, a man from Tarsus, in the house of Judas; for* behold, he is praying;
9:12 and he has seen in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hand on him, *that he might recover his sight .

9:13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man and how-much evil he did to your holy-ones in Jerusalem,
9:14 and he has authority from the high-priests here to bind all who are calling upon your name.

9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go-onward, because this man is a chosen vessel for me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
9:16 for* I will show him how-much it is essential for him to suffer on behalf of my name.
{Examples of those who were saved in the New Testament: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 9:17-18, 22:6-16, 26:12-18; 10:34-48; 16:13-15; 16:25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7.}

9:17 And Ananias went away and entered into the house, and laying his hands upon him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were going, has sent me, *that you may recover your sight and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.
9:18 And immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he recovered his sight, and he stood up and was immersed*;
9:19 and he took nourishment and was strengthened.
And Saul happened to be with the disciples who were in Damascus for some days.
9:20 And immediately in the synagogues he preached the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
9:21 And all who heard him were astonished and said, Is this not the one who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who are calling upon this name? And he has come here *for this purpose, that* he might bring them bound before the high-priests.
9:22 But Saul was empowered more and was confusing the Jews who are dwelling in Damascus, lecturing that this Jesus is the Christ.

9:23 And when a considerable number of days were fulfilled, the Jews counseled together to assassinate him;
9:24 but their pact became known to Saul. And they were guarding the gates both day and night *that they might assassinate him.
9:25 But the disciples took him by night and dropped him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
{37-39 AD. Arabia. Saul's retirement. Gal. 1:17-18. AD dates vary due to many not putting this in the chronology.}
{Sept. 39 AD. Jerusalem. Paul's first visit there.}

9:26 And when he had come into Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
9:27 But Barnabas took him and led him to the apostles, and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him and how in Damascus he had spoke boldly in the name of Lord Jesus.
9:28 And he was with them at Jerusalem, traveling into it, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
9:29 And he both spoke and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they were undertaking the task to assassinate him.
{40-43 AD Paul in Tarsus & Cilicia.}

9:30 And when the brethren fully knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.

9:31 Therefore indeed, all the congregations* throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace. They were multiplied, having been built up, and having conducted-themselves in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
{40 AD. Lydda & Joppa. Herod Antipas banished.}

9:32 And it happened, as Peter went through all the regions, he also came down to the holy-ones those dwelling at Lydda.
9:33 And he found a certain man named Aeneas there, who was paralyzed and had been lying in his pallet for eight years.
9:34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Stand up and spread your bed for yourself. And immediately he stood up.
9:35 And all who dwelt at Lydda, and in Sharon, saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

9:36 And there was a certain disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which is called by translation Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and of charity, which she did.
9:37 And it happened in those days, that being sick, she died and when they had bathed her, they laid her in an upstairs room.
9:38 And Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was in it, sent for him, encouraging him not to hesitate to come to them.
9:39 And Peter stood up and went with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upstairs room. And all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the tunics and garments; how-much Dorcas had made*, while she was with them.
9:40 But Peter put them all outside and placed his knees on the floor and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, rise* up. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
9:41 And he gave her his hand and stood her up, and summoning the holy-ones and widows, he presented her as living.
9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed on the Lord.
9:43 And it happened, that he remained a considerable number of days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
{Footnote: 9:5b-6- This section of wording is not found in the majority of manuscripts. It is an early attempt to harmonize the accounts of Saul's salvation which was added in the KJV. See 26:14-15.}
{40 AD. Caesarea.}