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.

Enquanto isso, Saulo ainda respirava ameaças de morte contra os discípulos do Senhor. Dirigindo-se ao sumo sacerdote,

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.

pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damasco, de maneira que, caso encontrasse ali homens ou mulheres que pertencessem ao Caminho, pudesse levá-los presos para Jerusalém.

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

Em sua viagem, quando se aproximava de Damasco, de repente brilhou ao seu redor uma luz vinda do céu.

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

Ele caiu por terra e ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: “Saulo, Saulo, por que você me persegue?”

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.”

Saulo perguntou: “Quem és tu, Senhor?” Ele respondeu: “Eu sou Jesus, a quem você persegue.

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.”

Levante-se, entre na cidade; alguém lhe dirá o que você deve fazer”.

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

Os homens que viajavam com Saulo pararam emudecidos; ouviam a voz mas não viam ninguém.

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.

Saulo levantou-se do chão e, abrindo os olhos, não conseguia ver nada. E os homens o levaram pela mão até Damasco.

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

Por três dias ele esteve cego, não comeu nem bebeu.

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.”

Em Damasco havia um discípulo chamado Ananias. O Senhor o chamou numa visão: “Ananias!” “Eis-me aqui, Senhor”, respondeu ele.

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.

O Senhor lhe disse: “Vá à casa de Judas, na rua chamada Direita, e pergunte por um homem de Tarso chamado Saulo. Ele está orando;

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.”

numa visão viu um homem chamado Ananias chegar e impor-lhe as mãos para que voltasse a ver”.

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.

Respondeu Ananias: “Senhor, tenho ouvido muita coisa a respeito desse homem e de todo o mal que ele tem feito aos teus santos em Jerusalém.

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.”

Ele chegou aqui com autorização dos chefes dos sacerdotes para prender todos os que invocam o teu nome”.

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.

Mas o Senhor disse a Ananias: “Vá! Este homem é meu instrumento escolhido para levar o meu nome perante os gentios e seus reis, e perante o povo de Israel.

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

Mostrarei a ele o quanto deve sofrer pelo meu nome”.

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.”

Então Ananias foi, entrou na casa, pôs as mãos sobre Saulo e disse: “Irmão Saulo, o Senhor Jesus, que lhe apareceu no caminho por onde você vinha, enviou-me para que você volte a ver e seja cheio do Espírito Santo”.

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

Imediatamente, algo como escamas caiu dos olhos de Saulo e ele passou a ver novamente. Levantando-se, foi batizado

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

e, depois de comer, recuperou as forças. Saulo em Damasco e em Jerusalém Saulo passou vários dias com os discípulos em Damasco.

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

Logo começou a pregar nas sinagogas que Jesus é o Filho de Deus.

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.”

Todos os que o ouviam ficavam perplexos e perguntavam: “Não é ele o homem que procurava destruir em Jerusalém aqueles que invocam este nome? E não veio para cá justamente para levá-los presos aos chefes dos sacerdotes?”

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.

Todavia, Saulo se fortalecia cada vez mais e confundia os judeus que viviam em Damasco, demonstrando que Jesus é o Cristo.

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

Decorridos muitos dias, os judeus decidiram de comum acordo matá-lo,

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

mas Saulo ficou sabendo do plano deles. Dia e noite eles vigiavam as portas da cidade a fim de matá-lo.

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

Mas os seus discípulos o levaram de noite e o fizeram descer num cesto, através de uma abertura na muralha.

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.

Quando chegou a Jerusalém, tentou reunir-se aos discípulos, mas todos estavam com medo dele, não acreditando que fosse realmente um discípulo.

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.

Então Barnabé o levou aos apóstolos e lhes contou como, no caminho, Saulo vira o Senhor, que lhe falara, e como em Damasco ele havia pregado corajosamente em nome de Jesus.

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

Assim, Saulo ficou com eles, e andava com liberdade em Jerusalém, pregando corajosamente em nome do Senhor.

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.

Falava e discutia com os judeus de fala grega, mas estes tentavam matá-lo.

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.

Sabendo disso, os irmãos o levaram para Cesaréia e o enviaram para Tarso.

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

A igreja passava por um período de paz em toda a Judéia, Galiléia e Samaria. Ela se edificava e, encorajada pelo Espírito Santo, crescia em número, vivendo no temor do Senhor. Enéias e Dorcas

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.

Viajando por toda parte, Pedro foi visitar os santos que viviam em Lida.

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

Ali encontrou um paralítico chamado Enéias, que estava acamado fazia oito anos.

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

Disse-lhe Pedro: “Enéias, Jesus Cristo vai curá-lo! Levante-se e arrume a sua cama”. Ele se levantou imediatamente.

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

Todos os que viviam em Lida e Sarona o viram e se converteram ao Senhor.

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.

Em Jope havia uma discípula chamada Tabita, que em grego é Dorcas, que se dedicava a praticar boas obras e dar esmolas.

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.

Naqueles dias ela ficou doente e morreu, e seu corpo foi lavado e colocado num quarto do andar superior.

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.

Lida ficava perto de Jope, e, quando os discípulos ouviram falar que Pedro estava em Lida, mandaram-lhe dois homens dizer-lhe: “Não se demore em vir até nós”.

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.

Pedro foi com eles e, quando chegou, foi levado para o quarto do andar superior. Todas as viúvas o rodearam, chorando e mostrando-lhe os vestidos e outras roupas que Dorcas tinha feito quando ainda estava com elas.

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.

Pedro mandou que todos saíssem do quarto; depois, ajoelhou-se e orou. Voltando-se para a mulher morta, disse: “Tabita, levante-se”. Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo Pedro, sentou-se.

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.

Tomando-a pela mão, ajudou-a a pôr-se em pé. Então, chamando os santos e as viúvas, apresentou-a viva.

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

Este fato se tornou conhecido em toda a cidade de Jope, e muitos creram no Senhor.

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

Pedro ficou em Jope durante algum tempo, com um curtidor de couro chamado Simão.