Act 8:1, 9:1-19, 22:4, 20 | ESV | STEP | And Saul approved of his execution . And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem , and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except the apostles .

1 And ^aSaul ^bapproved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and ^cthey were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 9:1-19

The Conversion of Saul

1 But Saul, ^dstill ^ebreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^fthe high priest 2 and asked him for letters ^gto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^hthe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 ⁱNow as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ^jme?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, ^kwhom you are persecuting. 6 But ^lrise and enter the city, and you will be told ^mwhat you are to do.” 7 ⁿThe men who were traveling with him stood speechless, ^ohearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, ^phe saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named ^qAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, ^r“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man ^sof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^tlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^uhow much evil he has done to ^vyour ^wsaints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from ^xthe chief priests to bind all who ^ycall on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^zhe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^aabefore the Gentiles and ^abkings and the children of Israel. 16 For ^acI will show him how much ^adhe must suffer ^aefor the sake of my name.” 17 So ^afAnanias departed and entered the house. And ^aglaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and ^ahbe filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and ^aihe regained his sight. Then ^ajhe rose and was baptized; 19 and ^aktaking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ^alsome days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 22:4

4 ^amI persecuted ^anthis Way ^aoto the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

Acts 22:20

20 And when the blood of Stephen ^apyour witness was being shed, ^aqI myself was standing by and ^arapproving and ^aswatching over the garments of those who killed him.’