1But Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2and requested from him letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3Now as he was on his journey and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7Now the men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9And for three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and in the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying,
12and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came—so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized,
19and after taking food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.
20And immediately in the synagogues he began to proclaim Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call on this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22But Saul grew all the more powerful and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23Now when many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26And when he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he described to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28And he was with them, going in and out in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29And he was speaking and debating with the Hellenists, but they were attempting to kill him.
30But when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord; and through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it increased in number.
32Now as Peter was traveling through all the regions, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been lying on a pallet for eight years.
34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” And immediately he got up.
35And all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity that she was doing.
37Now it happened in those days that she became sick and died; and after washing her, they laid her in an upper room.
38Now Lydda was near Joppa, so when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, urging, “Do not hesitate to come to us.”
39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him up to the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
40But Peter put everyone outside, and kneeling down, he prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41Giving her his hand, he raised her up. Then, calling for the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.
42And this became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And he stayed for a number of days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
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