1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Yeshua(Jesus), whom you are persecuting.
6But rise and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."
7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem;
14and here he has exousia(authority) from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."
17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Yeshua(Jesus), who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with hagio(holy) pneuma(spirit)."
18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
19and he took food and was strengthened. Now Saul spent some days with the disciples who were at Damascus,
20and immediately he began proclaiming Yeshua(Jesus) in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
21All who heard him were amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"
22But Saul kept endynamoo(increasing-in-power) and was confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah(Christ).
23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,
24but their plot became known to Saul; and they were also paratereo(observing with hostile intent) the gates day and night so that they might put him to death.
25But his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out with parresia(boldness) in the name of Yeshua(Jesus).
28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out with parresia(boldness) in the name of the Lord.
29And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenists, but they were attempting to put him to death.
30But when the brothers epignosantes(knowing-without-misjudgment), they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31So the ekklesia(called-out community)s throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed eirene(peace), being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the paraklesis(the act of coming alongside to call, comfort, exhortation) of the hagio(holy) pneuma(spirit) they continued to increase.
32Now it happened that as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.
34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Yeshua(Jesus) the Messiah(Christ) heals you; get up and make your bed." And immediately he got up.
35All who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas; this woman was abounding in deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
37And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."
39So Peter arose and went with them; and when he arrived, they brought him into the upper room, and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
40But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And he stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.