Acts 9:23–43

Saul Escapes from Damascus

^23pWhen many days had passed, the Jews¹ plotted to kill him, ²⁴but their ^qplot became known to Saul. ^rThey were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, ²⁵but his disciples took him by night and ^slet him down through an opening in the wall,² lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶And ^twhen he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷But ^uBarnabas took him and ^vbrought him to the apostles and declared to them ^whow on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and ^xhow at Damascus he had ^ypreached boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸So he went ^zin and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹And he spoke and disputed against ^athe Hellenists.³ But ^bthey were seeking to kill him. ³⁰And when ^cthe brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off ^dto Tarsus.

³¹So ^ethe church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And ^fwalking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, ^git multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

³²Now ^has Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. ³³There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. ³⁴And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ⁱJesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. ^35jAnd all the residents of Lydda and ^kSharon saw him, and ^lthey turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶Now there was in ^mJoppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.⁴ She was full of ⁿgood works and acts of charity. ³⁷In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in ^oan upper room. ³⁸Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ^p“Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to ^qthe upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics⁵ and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. ⁴⁰But Peter ^rput them all outside, and ^sknelt down and prayed; and turning to the body ^the said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa, and ^umany believed in the Lord. ⁴³And he stayed in Joppa for many days ^vwith one Simon, a tanner.