17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands onz Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, 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.”a 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,b 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciplesc in Damascus.d 20 At once he began to preach in the synagoguese that Jesus is the Son of God.f 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?g And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”h 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.i

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,j 24 but Saul learned of their plan.k Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.l