1 NOW Saul was still filled with anger and with threats of murder against the disciples of our LORD,

2 And 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.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly a light from the sky shone round about him;

4 And 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.

5 Saul 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.

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing only a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And 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.

9 And he was unable to see for three days during which he neither ate nor drank.

10 Now 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.

11 And 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,

12 And 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.

13 Then 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.

14 And behold here also he has authority from the high priests to bind all who call on your name.

15 But 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:

16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 Then 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.

18 And in that hour, there fell from his eyes something like scales; and his eyesight was restored; and he arose and was baptized.

19 And when he had received food, he was strengthened, and he remained several days with the disciples in Damascus.

20 From that time on, he preached in the Jewish synagogues concerning Jesus, that he is the Son of God.

21 But 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?

22 But Saul became more powerful and he made the Jews who dwelt in Damascus tremble when he proved that Jesus is the Christ.

23 After he had been there many days, the Jews plotted against him to kill him.

24 But their conspiracy was made known to Saul, how they watched the gates of the city day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples placed him in a basket and let him down over the wall during the night.

26 Then 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.

27 But 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.

28 So he went in and out with them at Jerusalem.

29 And he spoke openly in the name of Jesus, and debated with the Jews who understood Greek: but they wanted to kill him.

30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him by night to Cµs-a-re'a, and from thence they sent him to Tarsus.

31 Then the church throughout Judµa 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.

32 And it came to pass, while Simon Peter traveled to various cities, he came down also to the saints who dwelt at the city o· Lyd'da.

33 And there he found a man named ¦ æneas, who had been paralyzed and had lain in bed eight years.

34 And Simon Peter said to him, ¦ æne-as, Jesus Christ heals you: Arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately.

35 And all who dwelt at Lyd'da and Sharon saw him and turned to God.

36 Now 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.

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: they bathed her, and laid her in an upper room.

38 And 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.

39 Then 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.

40 But 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.

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up; then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

42 And this was known throughout the city and many believed in our LORD.

43 Peter remained in Joppa many days, staying at the house of Simon Bur-sa'ya, the tanner.