1NOW Saul was still filled with anger and with threats of murder against the disciples of our LORD, 2And he asked the high priests to give him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find anyone, men or women, following this faith, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly a light from the sky shone round about him; 4And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? You make it hard for yourself by kicking against the pricks. 5Saul answered and said, Who are you my LORD? and our LORD said, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute: 6 And he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what will you have me to do? And the LORD said to him, Arise and go into the city, and there you will be told what you must do. 7And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing only a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the ground, but he could not see even though his eyes were open; and they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was unable to see for three days during which he neither ate nor drank.

10Now there was in Damascus a disciple named An-a-ni’as, and the LORD said to him in a vision, An-a-ni’as. And he said, Behold, I am here, my LORD. 11And our LORD said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight and enquire at the house of Judas for Saul of the city of Tarsus: for behold, he is praying, 12And he has seen in a vision a man named An-a-ni’as coming in and laying his hand on him to restore his sight. 13Then An-a-ni’as said, My LORD, I have heard from many concerning this man, how much misery he has brought to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And behold here also he has authority from the high priests to bind all who call on your name. 15But the LORD said to him, Arise and go: he is the agent whom I have chosen for myself to carry my name to the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: 16For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17Then An-a-ni’as went to him at the house, and laying his hands on him, said, Saul, my brother, our LORD Jesus, who appeared to you on the way when you were coming, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18And in that hour, there fell from his eyes something like scales; and his eyesight was restored; and he arose and was baptized. 19And when he had received food, he was strengthened, and he remained several days with the disciples in Damascus.

20From that time on, he preached in the Jewish synagogues concerning Jesus, that he is the Son of God. 21But all those who heard him were amazed and said: Is this not he who persecuted those who called on this name in Jerusalem and behold, he was sent here for that very purpose that he might bring them bound to the high priests? 22But Saul became more powerful and he made the Jews who dwelt in Damascus tremble when he proved that Jesus is the Christ.

23After he had been there many days, the Jews plotted against him to kill him. 24But their conspiracy was made known to Saul, how they watched the gates of the city day and night to kill him. 25Then the disciples placed him in a basket and let him down over the wall during the night.

26Then Saul went to Jerusalem, and wanted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and could not believe that he was a convert. 27But Bar’na-bas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the LORD on the way, and how he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken openly in the name of Jesus. 28So he went in and out with them at Jerusalem. 29And he spoke openly in the name of Jesus, and debated with the Jews who understood Greek: but they wanted to kill him. 30And when the brethren knew it, they brought him by night to Cæs-a-re’a, and from thence they sent him to Tarsus.

31Then the church throughout Judæa and Galilee and Samaria was at peace, and strengthened itself and developed obedience and reverence to God, and by the consola- tion of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

32And it came to pass, while Simon Peter traveled to various cities, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at the city oú Lyd’da. 33And there he found a man named ? æneas, who had been paralyzed and had lain in bed eight years. 34And Simon Peter said to him, ? æne-as, Jesus Christ heals you: Arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately. 35And all who dwelt at Lyd’da and Sharon saw him and turned to God.

36Now there was in the city of Joppa a woman disciple called Tab’i-tha, which means gazelle and interpreted Dorcas; she was rich in good works and in charitable acts. 37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: they bathed her, and laid her in an upper room. 38And the disciples heard that Simon Peter was in the city of Lyd’da, which is beside Joppa; they sent to him two men, desiring him to come to them without delay. 39Then Simon Peter arose and went with them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room where all the widows were gathered around her weeping and they showed him shirts and cloaks which Tab’itha had given them when she was alive. 40But Simon Peter put all the people out and knelt down and prayed; then he turned to the body and said, Tab’i-tha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Simon Peter, she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up; then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. 42And this was known throughout the city and many believed in our LORD. 43Peter remained in Joppa many days, staying at the house of Simon Bur-sa’ya, the tanner.