Saul Becomes a Believer

1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord’s disciples, Saul went to the high priest. 2He asked him for letters to take with hima to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. 3As Saulb traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5He asked, “Who are you, Lord?”c

The voiced said, “I’m Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

7Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saule were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn’t see anyone. 8When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn’t see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companionsf took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he couldn’t see, and he didn’t eat or drink anything.

10Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

11The Lord told him, “Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he’s praying. 12He has seen in a visiong a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again.”

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on your name.”

15But the Lord told him, “Go, because he’s my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers,h to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. 16since I’m going to show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Saul’s Sight is Restored

17So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Sauli and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18All at once something like scales fell from Saul’sj eyes, and he could see again.

He got up and was baptized, 19and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus. 20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This is the Son of God.”

21Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, “This is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesus’k name in Jerusalem, isn’t it? Didn’t he come here to bring them in chains to the high priests?” 22But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah.l

23After several days had gone by, the Jewish leadersm plotted to murder Saul,n 24but their plot became known to him.o They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him, 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket.

26When Saulp arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldn’t believe he was a disciple. 27Barnabas, however, introduced Saulq to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saulr had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28So he freely circulateds among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. 29He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him. 30When the brothers found out about the plot,t they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Aeneas is Healed

32Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples,u he also visited the saints living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiahv is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!” At once he got up, 35and all the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Tabitha is Healed

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha,w which in Greek is Dorcas.x She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. 37At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, “Come here quickly!” 39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter,y crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. 42What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Meanwhile, Peterz stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.