9

1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked him for letters to :Damascus unto the synagogues; so that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh to :Damascus: and suddenly a light out of :heaven shone about him: 4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no one. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his :eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now a certain disciple was at Damascus, Ananias by name; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Lo, here am I, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street :called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a Tarsian, Saul by name: for lo, he prayeth; 12 and he hath seen in a vision a man Ananias by name, coming in, and laying :hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this :man, how much †evil he did to thy :saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy :name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go: for HE is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my :name both before the Gentiles and kings, and the sons of Israel: 16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my :name. 17 And Ananias went away, and went into the house; and laying :hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, who appeared to thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And straightway as if scales fell from his :eyes, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.
And he was certain days with the disciples at Damascus.

20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed :Jesus, that this is the Son of :God. 21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this who in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this :name? and he had come hither for this, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: 24 but their :plot became known to :Saul. And they also watched the gates both day and night, so that they might kill him: 25 but his :disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples: and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took and brought him unto the apostles, and rehearsed to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had done boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, 29 doing boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Hellenists; but THEY undertook to kill him. 30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 The church therefore throughout all :Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Æneas, who had kept abed eight years; and he was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, Æneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in :Sarōn saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now a certain disciple was at Joppa, Tabeitha by name, which by interpretation is called †Dorcas: SHE was full of good works and alms which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those :days, that she sickened, and died: and they washed and laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And as Lydda was nigh unto :Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating, Delay not to come on unto us. 39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing how many coats and garments :Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But :Peter put all out, and knelt and prayed; and turning to the body said, Tabeitha, arise. And SHE opened her :eyes; and seeing :Peter sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and :widows, presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.