Part 12

009:011 "Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.

009:012 He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."

009:013 "Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;

009:014 and here he is authorized by the High Priests to arrest all who call upon Thy name."

009:015 "Go," replied the Lord; "he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.

009:016 For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."

009:017 So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

009:018 Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;

009:019 after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.

009:020 And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;

009:021 and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"

009:022 Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.

009:023 At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;

009:024 but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;

009:025 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.

009:026 So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.

009:027 Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.

009:028 Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,

009:029 and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.

009:030 But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.

009:031 The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

009:032 Now Peter, as he went to town after town, came down also to God's people at Lud.

009:033 There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.

009:034 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.

009:035 And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.

009:036 Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, `Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.

009:037 But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.

009:038 Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.