1 S aul was still talking much about how he would like to kill the followers of the Lord. He went to the head religious leader.

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

2 H e asked for letters to be written to the Jewish places of worship in the city of Damascus. The letters were to say that if he found any men or women following the Way of Christ he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 H e went on his way until he came near Damascus. All at once he saw a light from heaven shining around him.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 H e fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against Me?”

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 S aul answered, “Who are You, Lord?” He said, “I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.”

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

6 S aul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, “What do You want me to do, Lord?” The Lord said to him, “Get up! Go into the city and you will be told what to do.”

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 T hose with Saul were not able to say anything. They heard a voice but saw no one.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 S aul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They took him by the hand and led him to Damascus.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 H e could not see for three days. During that time he did not eat or drink.

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

10 I n Damascus there was a follower by the name of Ananias. The Lord showed him in a dream what He wanted him to see. He said, “Ananias!” And Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord, I am here.”

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

11 T he Lord said, “Get up! Go over to Straight Street to Judas’ house and ask for a man from the city of Tarsus. His name is Saul. You will find him praying there.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 S aul has seen a man called Ananias in a dream. He is to come and put his hands on Saul so he might see again.”

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 A nanias said, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man. He is the reason many of Your followers in Jerusalem have had to suffer much.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 H e came here with the right and the power from the head religious leaders to put everyone in chains who call on Your name.”

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

15 T he Lord said to him, “Go! This man is the one I have chosen to carry My name among the people who are not Jews and to their kings and to Jews.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 I will show him how much he will have to suffer because of Me.” Saul Is Baptized

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

17 S o Ananias went to that house. He put his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me to you. You saw the Lord along the road as you came here. The Lord has sent me so you might be able to see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 A t once something like a covering fell from the eyes of Saul and he could see. He got up and was baptized.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 A fter that he ate some food and received strength. For some days he stayed with the followers in Damascus. Saul Preaches the Good News

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 A t once Saul began to preach in the Jewish places of worship that Jesus is the Son of God.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 A ll who heard him were surprised and wondered. They said, “This is the man who beat and killed the followers in Jerusalem. He came here to tie the followers in chains and take them to the head religious leaders.”

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 B ut Saul kept on growing in power. The Jews living in Damascus wondered about Saul’s preaching. He was proving that Jesus was the Christ.

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 A fter some days the Jews talked together and made plans how they might kill Saul.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 H e heard of their plans. Day and night they watched for him at the city gates to kill him.

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 S o the followers helped him get away at night. They let him down over the wall in a basket. Saul Comes to Jerusalem

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 W hen Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were afraid of him. They did not believe he was a true follower of Jesus.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 T hen Barnabas took him to the missionaries. He told them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road. He told them also how the Lord had spoken to Saul and how he had preached without fear in Damascus in the name of Jesus.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 A fter that he was with them going in and out of Jerusalem.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 H e preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 W hen the followers heard this, they took him down to the city of Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 T hen the church through all the countries of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace for awhile. The church was made strong and it was given comfort by the Holy Spirit. It honored the Lord. More people were added to the church. Aeneas Is Healed

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32 W hen Peter was visiting all parts of the country, he came to the faithful followers who were living in the city of Lydda.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 A man there named Aeneas could not move his body. He had been in bed eight years.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34 P eter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your bed.” He got up at once.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35 A ll the people who lived in Lydda and in the city of Sharon saw Aeneas and they turned to the Lord. Dorcas Is Raised from the Dead

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36 A woman who was a follower lived in the city of Joppa. Her name was Tabitha, or Dorcas. She did many good things and many acts of kindness.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37 O ne day she became sick and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her in a room on the second floor.

And 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.

38 T he city of Lydda was near Joppa. The followers heard that Peter was at Lydda and sent two men to ask him to come at once.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39 P eter went back with them. When he came, they took him to the room. All the women whose husbands had died were standing around crying. They were showing the clothes Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40 P eter made them all leave the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes and looked at Peter and sat up.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 H e took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then he called in the faithful followers and the women whose husbands had died. He gave her to them, a living person.

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

42 N ews of this went through all Joppa. Many people put their trust in the Lord.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43 A fter this, Peter stayed in Joppa many days in the house of Simon who worked with leather.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.