Acts
9 But Saul, still breathing threat and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that he might bring to Jerusalem in fetters whomever he found to be followers of the Path, both men and women.
3 And as he went on his way he came to be nearing Damascus, when all of a sudden a light flashed round him from the sky, 4 and he fell on the ground and heard a voice say to him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said “Who are you, sir?” And he said “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And his traveling-companions stood speechless, hearing the voice but not seeing anybody.
8 And Saul rose from the ground, but when his eyes were open he could see nothing; and they brought him into Damascus leading him by the hand. 9 And he was three days unable to see, and did not eat nor drink. 10 But there was in Damascus a certain disciple, by name Hananiah, and the Lord said to him in a vision “Hananiah!” and he said “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him “Stand up and go to the street known as Straight Street, and look at Judah’s house for a Tarsus man, Saul by name; for he is praying, 12 and has seen a man named Hananiah come in and lay his hands on him so that he may recover his sight.” 13 And Hananiah answered “Lord, I have heard about this man from a great many people, how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to thy holy ones; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to throw into fetters all who invoke thy name.” 15 But the Lord said to him “Go, because this man is the instrument of my choice to carry my name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will let him know how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 And Hananiah went, and came into the house and laid his hands on him and said “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to you on the road as you were coming, so that you might recover your sight and be filled with Holy Spirit.” 18 And at once it was as if scales dropped off from his eyes; and he recovered his sight, and rose and was baptized, 19 and took food and rallied.
And he was with the disciples at Damascus for some days, 20 and at once preached Jesus in the synagogues, saying “This is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard it were surprised, and said “Is not this the one who had ravaged at Jerusalem those who invoked this name, and had come here for this purpose, to bring them in fetters before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul grew more and more vigorous, and discomfited the Jews of Damascus, demonstrating that this is the Messiah.
23 But when several days had elapsed, the Jews plotted to take his life; 24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they also watched the gates day and night in order to take his life; 25 but his disciples took him and got him down through the wall by night, lowering him in a basket. 26 And he arrived in Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples; and 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 the story of how he had seen the Lord on the road, and his having spoken to him, and how he had spoken out in the name of Jesus at Damascus; 28 and he was with them going in and out of Jerusalem, speaking out in the Lord’s name. 29 And he talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews; but they undertook to take his life; 30 and the brothers, becoming cognizant of it, took him down to Cesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31* So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria was left in peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord, and it multiplied by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
32* And it so befell that as Peter went along through all parts of the community, among the rest he came down to the people of God at Lydda. 33 And he found there a certain man, Eneas by name, who had been lying abed for eight years, being paralyzed. 34* And Peter said to him “Eneas, Jesus Christ cures you; get up and make your bed”; and at once he got up. 35 And all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him; who turned back to the Lord.
36 And in Joppa there was a certain disciple, Tabitha by name, which is to say in English “Gazelle”; she was full of actions of kindness and charity that she used to do. 37 And it happened in those days that she fell sick and died; and they washed her and laid her in an upper room; 38 and, as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the appeal “Do not fail to come right on to us.” 39 And Peter rose and went with them; and when he arrived they took him up to the room, and all the widows presented themselves to him weeping and pointing to their dresses and cloaks that the Gazelle made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put everybody out and knelt down and prayed, and turned around to the body and said “Tabitha, stand up.” And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her to her feet; and he called the members of the church and the widows, and presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
43 And it befell that he stayed at Joppa several days with one Simon, a tanner.