Acts 9:17-43

17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after 1laying his hands on him said, “2Brother Saul, the Lord 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 3filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.

Now 4for several days he was with 5the disciples who were at Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus 6in the synagogues, 7saying, “He is 8the Son of God.” 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem 9destroyed those who 10called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the 11Christ.

23When 12many days had elapsed, 13the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but 14their plot became known to Saul. 15They were also watching 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.

2616When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; 17but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But 18Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had 19seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how 20at Damascus he had 21spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, 22moving about freely in Jerusalem, 23speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he was talking and arguing with the 2425Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30But when 26the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to 27Caesarea and 28sent him away to 29Tarsus.

31So 30the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria 31enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to 32the 33saints who lived at 3435Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at 3637Lydda and 38Sharon saw him, and they 39turned to the Lord.

36Now in 40Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called 41Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37And it happened 42at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an 43upper room. 38Since Lydda was near 44Joppa, 45the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the 46upper room; and all the 47widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the 48tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter 49sent them all out and 50knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “51Tabitha, 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 52the 53saints and 54widows, he presented her alive. 42It became known all over 55Joppa, and 56many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed many days in 57Joppa with 58a tanner named Simon.