Acts 9:18

Modern

At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

Traditional

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Literal

And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he saw again. And having risen up, he was baptized,

Latin

Et confestim ceciderunt ab oculis ejus tamquam squamæ, et visum recepit: et surgens baptizatus est.

Greek

English

At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is central to the story in Acts. Luke tells the story three times (also 22:1–21; 26:1–29). Paul (Saul) mentions this experience several times in his letters (1 Corinthians 15:8–10; Galatians 1:11–17; Philippians 3:4–11; see 1 Timothy 1:12–17). Saul’s conversion was his call as a prophet and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15–18). No one is beyond God's power to reach, save, and use for holy purposes. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). God prepared Paul through his training, childhood, and experience to play a unique role in proclaiming the gospel to the wider world as the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13; see 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 12:11–12; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 3:8).

Theme notes and profiles

2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Acts 13:37–38
But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
Acts 13:12–13
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 2:41
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.