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.

But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to 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 asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to 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.

As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.

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

He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute 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.”

He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

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.”

But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

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

The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.

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.

Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. 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.

He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

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.”

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, 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.

The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

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 in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands 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.

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your 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.”

Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your 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 to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations 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 show him how many 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.”

Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

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

Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He 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

He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

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

Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, 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.”

All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before 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 more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

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

When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together 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 plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might 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

but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him 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.

When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing 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 to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

He was with them entering into 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.

preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill 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.

When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off 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

So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

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.

As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

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

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.

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

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.

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

All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they 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 when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy 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.

In those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

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.

As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming 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.

Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had 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.

Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” 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.

He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

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

And it became 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.

He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.