Chapter 9

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out threats and murder against the Lord’s followers. He went to the high priest.

2He asked him for letters addressed to the Jewish meeting places in Damascus, called synagogues. The letters would allow Saul to find any followers of the movement known as the Way—men or women—tie them up, and bring them to Jerusalem.

3As Saul traveled and came near Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed all around him.

4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you hunting me down?”

5Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?” The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are hunting down.

6Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.”

7The men traveling with Saul stood speechless. They heard the voice but saw no one.

8Saul got up from the ground. Although his eyes were open, he could see nothing, so his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.

9For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank.

10In Damascus there was a follower of Jesus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

11The Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight. At Judas’s house, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying now.

12In a vision, Saul has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he can see again.”

13Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard many people speak about this man and all the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem.

14He has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on you as Lord.”

15But the Lord told him, “Go. I have chosen this man as my instrument to represent me before non-Jews, kings, and the people of Israel.

16I myself will show him how much he must suffer because he represents me.”

17So Ananias went to the house and entered. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.”

18Immediately, things like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized in water.

19After eating, he regained his strength. Saul then spent several days with Jesus’ followers in Damascus.

20He immediately began announcing in the synagogues, “Jesus is the Son of God.”

21Everyone who heard him was stunned. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who tried to destroy the people in Jerusalem who called on Jesus as Lord? Didn’t he come here to arrest those same people and take them in chains to the chief priests?”

22But Saul kept gaining strength and baffled the Jewish people living in Damascus by showing that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s promised king.

23After many days had passed, Saul’s Jewish opponents made plans to kill him.

24Saul learned about their plot. They watched the city gates day and night so that they could kill him.

25But one night Saul’s followers lowered him through an opening in the city wall in a large basket.

26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join Jesus’ followers. But they were all afraid of him because they did not believe he was really a follower.

27Barnabas took Saul to the apostles, Jesus’ appointed messengers. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to him. He also described how boldly Saul had spoken in Damascus with Jesus’ authority.

28So Saul stayed with them and moved freely around Jerusalem, speaking boldly with the Lord’s authority.

29He also spoke and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him.

30When the other believers learned about this, they brought Saul to Caesarea and sent him on to Tarsus.

31Then the community of believers throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace and grew stronger. They lived with deep respect for the Lord, and with the Holy Spirit’s encouragement, their number kept growing.

32As Peter traveled through the whole region, he also went to visit the believers living in Lydda.

33There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his mat for eight years.

34Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Aeneas immediately got up.

35Everyone living in Lydda and the Sharon region saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36In Joppa there was a woman who followed Jesus named Tabitha; in Greek her name was Dorcas. Her life overflowed with good deeds and gifts to people in need.

37During those days she became sick and died. After her body had been washed, they placed it in an upstairs room.

38Lydda was near Joppa, so when the followers heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him with this urgent request: “Please come to us without delay.”

39Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and outer garments Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Peter sent everyone out of the room. Then he knelt and prayed. Turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41Peter gave her his hand and helped her stand. Then he called in the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

42News of this spread throughout Joppa, and many people put their trust in the Lord.

43Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with a man named Simon, a leatherworker.