Acts 9:19–43

¹⁹And after taking some food, he regained his strength.^t

SAUL PROCLAIMING THE MESSIAH

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. ²⁰Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”^u

²¹All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^v

²²But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, ²⁴but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,^{w 25}but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.^x

SAUL IN JERUSALEM

²⁶When he arrived in Jerusalem,^y he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. ²⁷Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly^a in the name of Jesus.^{b 28}Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.^{c 30}When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.^d

THE CHURCH’S GROWTH

³¹So the church^e throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

THE HEALING OF AENEAS

³²As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints^f who lived in Lydda.^{g 33}There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,”^A and immediately he got up.^{h 35}So all who lived in Lydda and Sharonⁱ saw him and turned to the Lord.

DORCAS RESTORED TO LIFE

³⁶In Joppa^j there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works^k and acts of charity. ³⁷About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. ³⁸Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” ³⁹Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.^{l 41}He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. ⁴²This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon,^m a leather tanner.