Acts

The Road to Damascus

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.

8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing.So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

11“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

15“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

17So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Saul Preaches at Damascus

20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

21All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

The Escape from Damascus

23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

25One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

Saul in Jerusalem

26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

28So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews,but they tried to kill him.

30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Healing of Aeneas

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

32As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

33There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

35and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

The Raising of Tabitha

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas),who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

1And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

2And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.

4And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

6And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

7And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him, stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.

8And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.

9And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink.

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

11And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.

12(And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)

13But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.

14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.

15And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.

19And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.

20And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21And all that heard him, were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name: and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?

22But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.

23And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him.

24But their laying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night, that they might kill him.

25But the disciples taking him in the night, conveyed him away by the wall, letting him down in a basket.

26And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus.

28And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord.

29He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him.

30Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

31Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.

32And it came to pass that Peter, as he passed through, visiting all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.

33And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed for eight years, who was ill of the palsy.

34And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And immediately he arose.

35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron, saw him: who were converted to the Lord.

36And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37And it came to pass in those days that she was sick, and died. Whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppe, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not be slack to come unto them.

39And Peter rising up, went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him weeping, and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them.

40And they all being put forth, Peter kneeling down prayed, and turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.

41And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.

42And it was made known throughout all Joppe; and many believed in the Lord.

43And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppe, with one Simon a tanner.