1Saul was still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found any who belonged to this Way, whether men or women, he could tie them up and bring them to Jerusalem.
3As he travelled, he came near Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven shone all around him.
4He fell to the ground, and he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
6Trembling and amazed, he said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7The men who were travelling with him stood there unable to speak. They heard a voice, but saw no one.
8Saul got up from the ground. When his eyes were opened, he could see no one. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.
10There was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "I am here, Lord."
11The Lord said to him, "Get up, and go to the street called Straight. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus called Saul. Look, he is praying,"
12"and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hand on him, so that he could see again."
13Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, and how much harm he has done to your saints at Jerusalem."
14"And here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up everyone who calls on your name."
15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
16"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."
17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me, so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
19When he had eaten food, he grew strong. Then Saul stayed some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20Straight away he preached Christ in the synagogues, saying that he is the Son of God.
21All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is this not the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name? And did he not come here for that very purpose, to tie them up and take them to the chief priests?"
22But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He left the Jews who lived in Damascus with nothing to say, proving that this man is indeed the Christ.
23After many days had passed, the Jews made a plan to kill him.
24But Saul came to know about their plot. They watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall in a basket.
26When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28So he stayed with them, going in and out at Jerusalem.
29He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and argued with the Greek-speaking Jews. But they tried to kill him.
30When the brothers and sisters learned this, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
31Then the churches had rest all through Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and they were built up. They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and their numbers grew.
32As Peter travelled through all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been in bed for eight years, sick with palsy.
34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and make your bed." And he got up at once.
35All who lived at Lydda and Saron saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now at Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of kindness to the poor.
37In those days she became sick and died. They washed her and laid her in an upper room.
38Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there. So they sent two men to him, begging him to come to them without delay.
39Then Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him into the upper room. All the widows stood around him weeping, and showing the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40But Peter sent them all out. He knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41He gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then he called the saints and the widows, and showed her to them alive.
42This became known all through Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.