The Son Meets His Persecutor
9 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains. a a v2 "The Way" was the earliest name for the followers of Jesus, before they were called Christians. 3 As he traveled and was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5 He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose 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. 9 He was blind for three days and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and look in the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the nations and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, 19 and after eating, he regained his strength. For some days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of our Father. 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem caused such havoc among those who called on this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them as prisoners before the chief priests?"
22 But Saul grew all the stronger, and confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that this one is the Christ.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 When he came to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told 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. 28 So he was with them, moving freely about Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. b b v29 Hellenists: Greek-speaking Jews who had adopted Greek language and culture. 30 When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
The Son Heals Aeneas Through Peter
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." And immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas. She was full of good works and help for the poor. c c v36 Both Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean "gazelle." 37 In those days she became sick and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us right away." 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him up to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed. Then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, get up." And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with a man named Simon, a tanner.