9Verse 1Meanwhile Saul, still exhaling murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priestVerse 2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he should find any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Jesus chooses Saul
Verse 3So it happened, as he was going, that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him;Verse 4and falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”Verse 5So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” So the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting;+Verse 6but get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”Verse 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.Verse 8Then Saul got up from the ground, and upon opening his eyes he saw no one; so leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus.Verse 9He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.+
Ananias sent to Saul
Verse 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” So he said, “Here I am, Lord.”Verse 11So the Lord said to him: “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas inquire by name for Saul of Tarsus; because, you see, he is praying,Verse 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing a hand on him, so that he might recover his sight.”Verse 13But Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.Verse 14Moreover here he has authority from the chief priests+to bind all who are calling on Your name.”Verse 15But the Lord said to him: “Get moving, because this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name before nations and kings, also the children of Israel;Verse 16for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.”Verse 17So Ananias went and entered the house, and placing his hands on him he said, “Brother+Saul, the Lord,+who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may recover your sight and be filled by Holy Spirit.”Verse 18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight forthwith;+and getting up he was baptized,+Verse 19and upon receiving food he was strengthened. So Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for a number of days.
Saul starts preaching
Verse 20Immediately he started proclaiming Jesus+in the synagogues, that He is the Son of the God.Verse 21Well, all who heard him were astounded and started saying: “Isn't this the one who tried to destroy, in Jerusalem, those who called on this name? Even here he had come with that purpose, that he might take them bound to the high priests.”Verse 22But Saul kept growing stronger and kept on confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that ‘This One is the Christ.’
Saul escapes death
Verse 23Now when a good many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him;Verse 24but their plot became known to Saul. They started watching the gates day and night, so that they might kill him;Verse 25so the disciples+took him by night and passed him through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.+
Barnabas vouches for Saul
Verse 26Now upon arriving in Jerusalem Saul kept trying to join himself to the disciples;+but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.Verse 27But Barnabas took him in tow and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken fearlessly in the name of the Lord Jesus.+Verse 28So he was with them in Jerusalem, going in and out, and speaking fearlessly in the name of Jesus.+Verse 29He kept on speaking and debating with the Hellenists, so they started trying to kill him.+Verse 30Upon finding it out, the brothers brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
A brief respite
Verse 31So then the congregations+throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace and were built up; and proceeding in the fear of the Lord and in the enabling of the Holy Spirit+they were being multiplied.
Peter's ministry
Verse 32Now it happened, as Peter went through all those parts, that he also went down to the saints who were living in Lydda.
Peter heals Aeneas
Verse 33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas who was paralyzed—he had been lying on a pallet for eight years.Verse 34Peter said to him: “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah+is healing you. Get up and make your bed!”+And immediately he stood up!Verse 35All who were living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned+to the Lord.
Peter raises Dorcas
Verse 36Now there was a certain disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds that she kept doing.Verse 37But it happened in those days that she took sick and died; so when they had washed her they placed her in the upper room.+Verse 38Now Lydda was near Joppa; the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent to him imploring him not to delay in coming to them.Verse 39So Peter got up and went with them; upon arriving they took him up to the upper room; all the widows stood around him weeping and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas was making+while she was with them.Verse 40So Peter put them all out,+kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, get up!” So she opened her eyes, and upon seeing Peter she sat up.+Verse 41Then he gave her a hand and lifted her up, and calling the saints and widows he presented her alive.Verse 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.Verse 43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.