Study Desk

^(C1)Now ^(F1)Saul, still ^(C2)breathing ^(F2)threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

and asked for ^(C1)letters from him to ^(C2)the synagogues in ^(C3)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^(F1)(C4)the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.

Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and ^(C1)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

and ^(C1)he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

but get up and enter the city, and ^(C1)it will be told to you what you must do."

The men who traveled with him ^(C1)stood speechless, ^(C2)hearing the ^(F1)voice but seeing no one.

Saul got up from the ground, and ^(C1)though his eyes were open, he ^(F1)could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into ^(C2)Damascus.

And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in ^(C1)Damascus named ^(C2)Ananias; and the Lord said to him in ^(C3)a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from ^(C1)Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

and he has seen ^(F1)in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^(C1)lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight."

But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, ^(C1)how much harm he did to ^(C2)Your ^(F1)saints in Jerusalem;

and here he ^(C1)has authority from the chief priests to ^(F1)arrest all who ^(C2)call on Your name."

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for ^(C1)he is a chosen ^(F1)instrument of Mine, to bear My name before ^(C2)the Gentiles and ^(C3)kings and the sons of Israel;

for ^(C1)I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name."

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after ^(C1)laying his hands on him said, "^(C2)Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be ^(C3)filled with the Holy Spirit."

And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

and he took food and was strengthened. Saul Begins to Preach Christ Now ^(C1)for several days he was with ^(C2)the disciples who were in Damascus,

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Acts 26:20; (C2) - Acts 9:26, 38;

and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus ^(C1)in the synagogues, ^(F1)saying, "He is ^(C2)the Son of God."

All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not the one who in Jerusalem ^(C1)destroyed those who ^(C2)called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"

But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the ^(F1)Christ.