1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats to murder the Lord's followers. He went to the high priest
2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any followers of the Way, male or female, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.
3As he was traveling, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me?"
5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, the one you are attacking.
6But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7The men traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the sound but saw no one.
8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9He was blind for three days and didn't eat or drink anything.
10Now there was a follower of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
11The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called 'Straight.' In the house of Judah, ask for a man named Saul from Tarsus. Listen, he is praying,
12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so he can see again."
13But Ananias replied, "Lord, I've heard from many people about this man and how much harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14He has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name."
15But the Lord said to him, "Go, because he is my chosen instrument to carry my name to non-Jews and kings, and to the people of Israel.
16For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Ananias left and went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
19He ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for several days.
20Immediately, he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
21Everyone who heard him was amazed and said, "Isn't this the man who in Jerusalem tried to destroy those who call on this name? And didn't he come here to arrest them and take them bound to the chief priests?"
22But Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired together to kill him.
24But their plot became known to Saul. They watched the city gates day and night in order to kill him,
25but his followers took him by night and let him down through an opening in the city wall, lowering him in a basket.
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers of Jesus, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was truly a follower.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28So Saul stayed with them, moving freely in Jerusalem,
29Paul preached boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and argued against the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him.
30When the believers found out, they took him to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31So the churches throughout all of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and grew stronger. They increased in number, living in respect for the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
32As Peter traveled through all those areas, he also went to the believers living in Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately, he got up.
35Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now in Joppa, there was a female believer named Tabitha, which means Dorcas in Greek. This woman was always doing good deeds and acts of kindness.
37During those days, she became sick and died. After they had washed her body, they placed her in an upstairs room.
38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the believers, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, begging him not to delay in coming to them.
39Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the tunics and clothing that Dorcas had made while she was alive.
40Peter sent everyone out, then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41He offered her his hand and helped her up. Calling the believers and widows, he presented her to them alive.
42This became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43Peter stayed for many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.