1 But Saul, still breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and requested from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
6 And trembling and astonished he said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood dumbfounded, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 And Saul was raised up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he saw no one; and leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus.
9 And for three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
10 There was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for look, he is praying,
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying a hand on him so that he may receive his sight."
13 And Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;
14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine, to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel;
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house, and putting his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me so that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received sight at once; and he arose and was baptized;
19 and when he had taken food, he was strengthened. And Saul was with the disciples at Damascus for some days.
20 And immediately he proclaimed the Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 And all who heard were astonished and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"
22 But Saul kept growing stronger, and he confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him;
24 but their plot was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him;
25 but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them, coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.
29 And he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, but they went about to kill him.
30 And when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
32 Now as Peter was passing through all parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years and was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.
35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 And at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas; this woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
37 And in those days she fell sick and died; and having washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him not to delay in coming to them.
39 And Peter rose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him up into the upper room, and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all out, knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 And he remained many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.