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 something like fish 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 4for several days he was with 5the disciples who were in 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 the one who in Jerusalem 9destroyed those who 10called on this name, and had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding Jews who lived in 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 closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

2616When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But 17Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had 18seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how 19he had 20spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. 28And he was with them, 21moving about freely in Jerusalem, 22speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he was talking and arguing with the 2324Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30Now when 25the 26brothers learned of it, they brought him down to 27Caesarea and 28sent him away to 29Tarsus.

31So 30the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria 31enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it 32continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to 33the 34saints who lived at 3536Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, 37because he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at 3839Lydda and 40Sharon saw him, and they 41turned to the Lord.

36Now in 42Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means 43Dorcas); this woman was 44excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. 37But it happened 45at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an 46upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near 47Joppa, 48the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the 49room upstairs; and all the 50widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the 51tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter 52sent them all out and 53knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “54Tabitha, 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 55the 56saints and 57widows, he presented her alive. 42It became known all over 58Joppa, and 59many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed in 60Joppa many days with 61a tanner named Simon.