Saul is knocked off his high horse
1 Meanwhile, Saul continued to breathe out murderous threats against the disciples of the Master. He approached the high priest 2 to request letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted permission to take any who were of The Way, whether men or women, as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 As he traveled and came close to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 Dropping to the ground, he heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you hounding me?”
5 He replied, “Who are you, Master?”
“I am Jesus,” the voice replied, “the one you are chasing down! 6 But go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the sound but saw no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground but he could see nothing at all when he opened his eyes. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and he did not eat or drink anything.
Ananias heals Saul
10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Master called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Master,” he replied.
11 And the Master said, “Get up and go to Straight Street, and look for the house of Judas where there is someone from Tarsus named Saul, who is praying. 12 He has seen a vision of a man named Ananias coming to place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 But Ananias objected, “Master, I’ve heard about him from many people, about the terrible things he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And now he has permission from the high priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Master replied, “Go! For he is the instrument I have chosen to carry my name before nations and kings, as well as the people of Israel. 16 And I will tell him exactly how much he will suffer for my name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went away, and when he entered the house he placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Master Jesus whom you saw on your way here, has commissioned me so that you can receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again! So he got up and was immersed. 19 He took nourishment and was strengthened, and he stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.
The hunter becomes the hunted
20 Then Paul abruptly went into the synagogues to proclaim that Jesus is the God-Man. 21 This amazed everyone who heard it, because they said, “Isn’t this the one who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on all who called upon this name? Didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them to the high priests?”
22 But Saul became more and more powerful, throwing the Judeans living in Damascus into turmoil by arguing that Jesus is Christ. 23 And after this had continued for a long time, the Judeans conspired to assassinate him, 24 but Saul found out about their plot. They monitored the city gates day and night for the chance to kill him. 25 But one night the disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 Now when he came to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples there. But they were afraid of him and didn’t believe he was a disciple like them. 27 So Barnabas vouched for him, telling the apostles how he met the Master on the road, how the Master spoke to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 As he continued, 29 he debated the Greek-speaking Judeans, yet they conspired to assassinate him. 30 But the believers found out about it and took him to Caesarea, then sent him on his way to Tarsus. 31 So then the Congregation throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. They were encouraged and continued in the fear of the Master, and their numbers multiplied with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Peter heals one and raises another
32 Meanwhile, as Peter traveled about he came down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain paralyzed person called Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years. 34 So Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and take care of your bed!” Immediately he got up, 35 and the news about this caused everyone living in Lydda and Saron to turn to the Master.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (translated as Dorcas). She was always doing good deeds and charitable work. 37 And in those days it happened that she became ill and died. So they bathed her and placed her in an upper room. 38 Now Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples heard that Peter was there. So they sent two men to him to say, “Hurry and come to us!” 39 Then Peter went with them, and they led him to the upper room, where all the widows were crying and displaying the tunics and other clothing Dorcas had made for them.
40 Peter had them all leave the room. He knelt down to pray, and turning toward the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, looked at Peter, and sat up! 41 So Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he summoned the holy ones and widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This event became known throughout all of Joppa, and many put their trust in the Master. 43 Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.