1 | And Saul , yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord , went unto the high priest , |
2 | And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues , that if he found any of this way , whether they were men or women , he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem . |
3 | And as he journeyed , he came near Damascus : and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven : |
4 | And he fell to the earth , and heard a voice saying unto him , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? |
5 | And he said , Who art thou , Lord ? And the Lord said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest : [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks . |
6 | And he trembling and astonished said , Lord , what wilt thou have me to do ? And the Lord [said] unto him , Arise , and go into the city , and it shall be told thee what thou must do . |
7 | And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless , hearing a voice , but seeing no man . |
8 | And Saul arose from the earth ; and when his eyes were opened , he saw no man : but they led him by the hand , and brought [him] into Damascus . |
9 | And he was three days without sight , and neither did eat nor drink . |
10 | And there was a certain disciple at Damascus , named Ananias ; and to him said the Lord in a vision , Ananias . And he said , Behold , I [am here], Lord . |
11 | And the Lord [said] unto him , Arise , and go into the street which is called Straight , and enquire in the house of Judas for [one] called Saul , of Tarsus : for , behold , he prayeth , |
12 | And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in , and putting [his] hand on him , that he might receive his sight . |
13 | Then Ananias answered , Lord , I have heard by many of this man , how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem : |
14 | And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name . |
15 | But the Lord said unto him , Go thy way : for he is a chosen vessel unto me , to bear my name before the Gentiles , and kings , and the children of Israel : |
16 | For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake . |
17 | And Ananias went his way , and entered into the house ; and putting his hands on him said , Brother Saul , the Lord , [even] Jesus , that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest , hath sent me , that thou mightest receive thy sight , and be filled with the Holy Ghost . |
18 | And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales : and he received sight forthwith , and arose , and was baptized . |
19 | And when he had received meat , he was strengthened . Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus . |
20 | And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues , that he is the Son of God . |
21 | But all that heard [him] were amazed , and said ; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem , and came hither for that intent , that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests ? |
22 | But Saul increased the more in strength , and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus , proving that this is very Christ . |
23 | And after that many days were fulfilled , the Jews took counsel to kill him : |
24 | But their laying await was known of Saul . And they watched the gates day and night to kill him . |
25 | Then the disciples took him by night , and let [him] down by the wall in a basket . |
26 | And when Saul was come to Jerusalem , he assayed to join himself to the disciples : but they were all afraid of him , and believed not that he was a disciple . |
27 | But Barnabas took him , and brought [him] to the apostles , and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way , and that he had spoken to him , and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus . |
28 | And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem . |
29 | And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus , and disputed against the Grecians : but they went about to slay him . |
30 | [Which] when the brethren knew , they brought him down to Caesarea , and sent him forth to Tarsus . |
31 | Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria , and were edified ; and walking in the fear of the Lord , and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost , were multiplied . |
32 | And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda . |
33 | And there he found a certain man named Aeneas , which had kept his bed eight years , and was sick of the palsy . |
34 | And Peter said unto him , Aeneas , Jesus Christ maketh thee whole : arise , and make thy bed . And he arose immediately . |
35 | And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him , and turned to the Lord . |
36 | Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha , which by interpretation is called Dorcas : this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did . |
37 | And it came to pass in those days , that she was sick , and died : whom when they had washed , they laid [her] in an upper chamber . |
38 | And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa , and the disciples had heard that Peter was there , they sent unto him two men , desiring [him] that he would not delay to come to them . |
39 | Then Peter arose and went with them . When he was come , they brought him into the upper chamber : and all the widows stood by him weeping , and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made , while she was with them . |
40 | But Peter put them all forth , and kneeled down , and prayed ; and turning [him] to the body said , Tabitha , arise . And she opened her eyes : and when she saw Peter , she sat up . |
41 | And he gave her [his] hand , and lifted her up , and when he had called the saints and widows , presented her alive . |
42 | And it was known throughout all Joppa ; and many believed in the Lord . |
43 | And it came to pass , that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner . |