Meanwhile , - Saul {was} still breathing out - murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
and requested ... ... letters to the synagogues in Damascus , so that if he found any - men (or) women belonging to the Way , he could bring them as prisoners ... to Jerusalem.
- (As) (Saul) drew near - to Damascus on - his journey , suddenly - a light from - heaven flashed around him.
- He fell to the ground (and) heard a voice say to him , “ Saul , Saul , why do you persecute Me ? ”
“ Who are You , Lord ? ” - (Saul) asked. “ I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting , ” (He replied) -.
“ Now get up and go into ... the city , and you will be told ... - what you must do. ”
- The men - traveling with (Saul) stood (there) speechless. They heard the voice - but did not see (anyone).
- Saul got up from the ground , but when he opened his - eyes he could not see (a thing). (So) they led him by the hand ... ... into Damascus.
- (For) three days he was without sight , and vvv he did not eat (or) drink (anything).
- In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. - The Lord spoke to him in a vision , “ Ananias ! ” “ Here I (am) , Lord , ” - - he answered.
“ Get up ! ” - the Lord (told) him. “ Go to (the) house of Judas on - - - Straight Street and ask for (a man from) Tarsus named Saul , for he is praying.
In a vision - he has seen a man named Ananias come and place (his) hands on him to restore his sight. ”
But Ananias answered , “ Lord , vvv many (people) have told me about this - man (and) all (the) harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
And now (he is) here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your - name. ”
“ Go ! ” - said the Lord - -. “ - This (man) is My chosen instrument - to carry My - name before the Gentiles and their ... kings , and (before the) people of Israel.
- I will show him how much he must suffer for My - name. ”
(So) Ananias went to the house , and (when) he arrived ... , - he placed (his) hands on (Saul). “ Brother Saul , ” he said , “ the Lord Jesus , who appeared to you on the road (as) you were coming (here) , has sent me so that you may see again and be filled (with the) Holy Spirit. ”
- At that instant , (something) like scales fell from (Saul’s) - eyes , and his sight was restored. - He got up (and) was baptized ,
and after taking (some) food , he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
- vvv (Saul) promptly began to proclaim - Jesus in the synagogues , ( declaring ) , “ He is the Son - of God. ”
- All who heard (him) were astounded and asked , “ Isn’t ... this the (man who) wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those (who) call on this - name ? And hasn’t he come here - - to take them as prisoners to the chief priests ? ”
But Saul was empowered all the more , and he confounded the Jews - living in Damascus by proving that (Jesus) is the Christ.
- After many days had passed , the Jews conspired to kill him ,
but - Saul learned of their - plot. - - Day and night vvv they watched the (city) gates in order to kill him.
One night , however , his - disciples took (him) (and) lowered (him) in a basket - - through ( a window ) in the wall.
(When) (Saul) arrived in Jerusalem , he tried to join the disciples , (but) vvv they were all afraid of him , not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas vvv vvv brought (him) to the apostles and described ... how (Saul) had seen the Lord , - (who) spoke to him on the road (to Damascus) , and how (Saul) had spoken boldly in (that city) in the name - of Jesus.
(So) (Saul) stayed with them , moving about freely ... ... in Jerusalem (and) speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
- He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews , but - they tried to kill him.
(When) the brothers learned of (this) , they took him down ... to Caesarea and sent him off ... to Tarsus.
Then - the church throughout ... - Jude -a , - Galilee , and Samaria experienced (a time of) peace. It grew in strength and Numbers - , living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
- As Peter - traveled throughout (the area) , vvv he went to (visit) ... the saints - (in) Lydda.
- There he found a man named Aeneas , who had been paralyzed (and) bedridden ... ... for eight years.
“ Aeneas , ” - - Peter - said to him , “ Jesus Christ heals you ! Get up and put away your mat .... ” - Immediately (Aeneas) got up ,
and all who lived in Lydda and - Sharon saw him (and) turned to the Lord.
- In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas ), who was - always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
At that - time , however , vvv she became sick (and) died , and her body was washed ... (and) placed in an upper room.
(Since) - Lydda was near Joppa , the disciples heard that Peter - was vvv (there) (and) sent two men to urge - him , “ Come to us without delay. ”
(So) Peter - got up (and) went with them. vvv On his arrival , they took (him) to the upper room. - All the widows stood around him , weeping and showing (him) (the) tunics and (other) clothing that - Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Then - Peter - sent them all out of the room. - He knelt down ... ... (and) prayed , and turning toward (her) body , he said , “ Tabitha , get up ! ” - - She opened her - eyes , and seeing - Peter - , she sat up.
- (Peter -) took her by the hand (and) helped her up .... Then he called the saints and - widows (and) presented her (to them) alive.
- (This) became known all over - Joppa , and many (people) believed in the Lord.
And ... (Peter -) stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner (named) Simon.