aNow 1Saul
, still
bbreathing
2threats
and murder
against
the disciples
of the Lord
, went
to the high
priest
,
and asked for aletters
from him to bthe synagogues
at cDamascus
, so
that if
he found
any
belonging
to dthe Way
, both
men
and women
, he might bring
them bound
to Jerusalem
.
As he was traveling, it happened
that he was approaching
Damascus
, and asuddenly
a light
from heaven
flashed
around
him;
and ahe 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 ait will be told
you what
you must
do
."
The men who traveled
with him astood
speechless
, bhearing
the 1voice
but seeing
no
one
.
Saul got
up from the ground
, and athough his eyes
were open
, he 1could see
nothing
; and leading
him by the hand
, they brought
him into bDamascus
.
And he was three days
without
sight
, and neither
ate
nor
drank
.
Now there was a disciple
at aDamascus
named
bAnanias
; and the Lord
said
to him in ca 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 aTarsus
named
Saul
, for he is praying
,
and he has seen 1in a vision
a man
named
Ananias
come
in and alay
his hands
on him, so
that he might regain
his sight
."
But Ananias answered
, "Lord
, I have heard
from many
about
this
man
, ahow
much
harm
he did
to bYour 1saints
at Jerusalem
;
and here he ahas
authority
from the chief
priests
to bind
all
who bcall
on Your name
."
But the Lord said
to him, "Go
, for ahe is a chosen
1instrument
of Mine
, to bear
My name
before
bthe Gentiles
and ckings
and the sons
of Israel
;
for aI will show him how
much
he must
suffer
for My name's
sake
."
So Ananias
departed
and entered
the house
, and after alaying
his hands
on him said
, " bBrother
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 cfilled
with the Holy
Spirit
."
And immediately there fell
from his eyes
something like
scales
, and he regained
his sight
, and he got
up and was baptized
;
and he took food
and was strengthened
.
Now afor several
days
he was with bthe disciples
who were at Damascus
,
and immediately he began to proclaim
Jesus
ain the synagogues
, 1saying
, "He is bthe Son
of God
."
All those
hearing
him continued to be amazed
, and were saying
, "Is this
not he who in Jerusalem
adestroyed
those
who bcalled
on this
name
, and who had come
here
for the purpose of bringing
them bound
before
the chief
priests
?"
But Saul kept increasing
in strength
and confounding
the Jews
who lived
at Damascus
by proving
that this
Jesus is the 1Christ
.
When amany
days
had elapsed
, bthe Jews
plotted
together
to do
away
with him,
but atheir plot became known
to Saul
. bThey were also
watching
the gates
day
and night
so
that they might put
him to death
;
but his disciples took
him by night
and let
him down
through
an opening in the wall
, lowering
him in a large
basket
.
aWhen he came to Jerusalem
, he was trying
to associate
with the disciples
; 1but they were all
afraid
of him, not believing
that he was a disciple
.
But aBarnabas took
hold
of him and brought
him to the apostles
and described
to them how
he had bseen
the Lord
on the road
, and that He had talked
to him, and how
cat Damascus
he had dspoken
out boldly
in the name
of Jesus
.
And he was with them, 1moving about
freely
in Jerusalem
, aspeaking
out boldly
in the name
of the Lord
.
And he was talking and arguing
with the 1 aHellenistic
Jews; but they were attempting
to put
him to death
.
But when athe brethren learned
of it, they brought
him down
to bCaesarea
and csent
him away
to dTarsus
.
So athe church
throughout
all
Judea
and Galilee
and Samaria
1enjoyed
peace
, being built
up; and going
on in the fear
of the Lord
and in the comfort
of the Holy
Spirit
, it continued to increase
.
Now as Peter
was traveling
through
all
those regions, he came
down
also
to athe 1saints
who lived
at 2 bLydda
.
There he found
a man
named
Aeneas
, who had been bedridden
eight
years
, for he was paralyzed
.
Peter said
to him, "Aeneas
, Jesus
Christ
heals
you; get
up and make
your bed
." Immediately
he got
up.
And all who lived
at 1 aLydda
and bSharon
saw
him, and they cturned
to the Lord
.
Now in aJoppa
there was a disciple
named
Tabitha
(which
translated
in Greek is called
1Dorcas
); this
woman
was abounding
with deeds
of kindness
and charity
which
she continually did
.
And it happened 1at that time
that she fell
sick
and died
; and when they had washed
her body, they laid
it in an aupper
room
.
Since Lydda was near
aJoppa
, bthe disciples
, having heard
that Peter
was there
, sent
two
men
to him, imploring
him, "Do not delay
in coming
to us."
So Peter
arose
and went
with them. When
he arrived
, they brought
him into the aupper
room
; and all
the bwidows
stood
beside
him, weeping
and showing
all
the 1tunics
and garments
that Dorcas
used to make
while
she was with them.
But Peter asent
them all
out and bknelt
down
and prayed
, and turning
to the body
, he said
, " cTabitha
, arise
." And she opened
her eyes
, and when she saw
Peter
, she sat
up.
And he gave her his hand
and raised
her up; and calling
athe 1saints
and bwidows
, he presented
her alive
.
It became known
all
over
aJoppa
, and bmany
believed
in the Lord
.
And Peter stayed many
days
in aJoppa
with ba tanner
named Simon
.