Saul on the Road to Damascus
1Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found anyone belonging to the Way, men or women, he could bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3On the journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with him stood there speechless: they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Is Sent
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. 11The Lord said, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so that he may see again.” 13Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling — so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized;
Saul Preaches in Damascus
19and after taking food he regained his strength. He spent some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues: that he is the Son of God. 21Everyone who heard him was astounded. “Isn’t this the man who wrecked the lives of those in Jerusalem who call on this name? And didn’t he come here for the very purpose of taking them bound to the chief priests?” 22But Saul grew stronger and stronger, and he threw the Jews living in Damascus into confusion by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23After many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him; 25so his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26When he reached Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing he was a disciple. 27Barnabas, however, took him in hand and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how boldly he had spoken in Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28So he stayed with them, coming and going in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He also spoke and argued with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they set out to kill him. 30When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31So the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace. It was being built up, it went forward in the fear of the Lord, and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit made it grow.
Aeneas and Tabitha
32As Peter traveled from place to place, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden and paralyzed for eight years. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” And he got up at once. 35Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which translated is Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37In those days she fell ill and died. They washed her and laid her in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.” 39Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived they took him up to the room, and all the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and coats that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40Peter sent them all out, knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and helped her to her feet; then he called the saints and the widows and presented her alive. 42Word of it spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed on in Joppa for many days with a tanner named Simon.
