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Saul was still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light shone from heaven shone around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7 The men travelling with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man named Saul, for he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority to arrest all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel. 16 I Myself will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were travelling here, has sent me so you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. Then he got up and was baptised. 19 And after taking some food, he was strengthened.
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus several days, 20 and he immediately began proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed and asked, “Isn’t this the man who created havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in power, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They kept watch on the city gates day and night so that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought to the apostles. He explained to them how on his journey Saul had seen the Lord, and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul moved about freely among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenist Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the brothers learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Then, living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 As Peter travelled from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralysed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and sort out your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and charitable deeds. 37 But in those days she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him who urged him, “Please come to us without delay.”
39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the upstairs room. And all the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the robes and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he knelt down and prayed, and turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. When he had called in all the saints and widows, he presented her to them alive. 42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed on in Joppa for many days with a tanner named Simon.