大马士革路上

扫罗仍然向主的门徒们口吐凶杀威吓的话。他来到大祭司面前, 求他发一些信函给大马士革各会堂,准许扫罗如果发现什么人属于这道[a],无论男女,都捆绑起来,带到耶路撒冷 扫罗赶路,快到大马士革的时候,忽然有光从天上下来,四面照射他。 他仆倒在地上,听见有声音对他说:扫罗扫罗!你为什么逼迫我?”

他问:“主啊,你到底是谁?”

主说:“我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。[b] [c]你起来,进城去!有人会告诉你应该做什么。”

扫罗同行的人都站着,哑口无言,他们虽然听见声音,却看不见任何人。 扫罗从地上爬起来,睁开眼睛,却什么也看不见。他们牵着他的手,把他带进大马士革 他三天不能看见,不吃也不喝。

扫罗受洗

10 大马士革有一个名叫阿纳尼亚的门徒。主在异象中对他说:阿纳尼亚!”

他回答说:“主啊!看哪,我在这里。”

11 主就对他说:“起来,往那叫做‘直’的街上去,在犹大家里找一个名叫扫罗塔尔苏人。看哪,原来他正在祷告。 12 他在异象中[d]看见了一个名叫阿纳尼亚的人,进来按手在他身上,使他重见光明。”

13 阿纳尼亚却回答:“主啊,我听许多人说过有关这个人在耶路撒冷对你的圣徒们所做的种种恶事。 14 并且,他得到祭司长们的授权来到这里,要捆绑所有求告你名的人。”

15 但是主对他说:“你去吧!因为这个人是我所拣选的器皿,不但要在外邦人和君王面前,还要在以色列子民面前宣扬[e]我的名。 16 我要指示他,为了我的名他必须受多大的苦害。”

17 阿纳尼亚就去了。他进了那家,按手在扫罗身上,说:“扫罗弟兄,在你来的路上向你显现的主耶稣差派我来,使你重见光明,并且被圣灵充满。”

18 立刻有像鳞片一样的东西从扫罗的眼睛上掉了下来,他就重见光明了。于是他起来受了洗; 19 吃过饭,体力就恢复了。

扫罗传讲基督

扫罗与在大马士革的门徒们住了几天, 20 就立刻在各会堂里传讲耶稣[f],说这一位就是神的儿子。

21 所有听见的人都十分惊讶,说:“这不就是那个在耶路撒冷残害了那些求告这名的人吗?而且他来到这里,不就是为要捆绑他们,带到祭司长们那里吗?”

22 扫罗反而更加得以刚强,证明这一位就是基督,使住在大马士革犹太人很狼狈。

23 过了许多日子以后,犹太人商议要杀了扫罗 24 但他们的阴谋却被扫罗知道了。于是他们就日夜严守着各城门,要杀掉他。 25 然而他的门徒们趁夜把他带去,用筐子把他从城墙上缒了下去。

扫罗在耶路撒冷

26 扫罗来到耶路撒冷,想要和门徒们交往,可是大家都怕他,不相信他成了门徒。 27 但是巴拿巴接纳他,把他带到使徒们那里,并且告诉他们扫罗怎样在路上见到主,主怎样对他说了话,以及他怎样在大马士革奉耶稣的名放胆传道。 28 于是扫罗耶路撒冷与他们一起出入,奉主[g]的名放胆传道。 29 他对那些说希腊语的犹太人讲道,与他们辩论;他们却图谋要杀了他。 30 弟兄们知道了这事,就带他下到凯撒里亚,然后送他往塔尔苏去。

31 这样,教会在犹太加利利撒马利亚全地得平安、得造就,并且怀着对主的敬畏之心不断地前行,在圣灵的安慰[h]中不断地增长。

艾尼亚痊愈

32 有一次,彼得走遍各地的时候,也下到住在利达的圣徒们那里。 33 在那里,他遇见了一个名叫艾尼亚的人。他是个瘫痪的人,躺在垫子上八年了。 34 彼得对他说:“艾尼亚,耶稣基督使你痊愈。站起来,为你自己整理垫子吧!”艾尼亚立刻就站起来了。 35 于是所有住在利达沙仑的人看到他,就归向了主。

塔比莎复活

36 约帕有一个女门徒,名叫塔比莎——“塔比莎”翻译出来意思是“羚羊[i]”。她尽做美善工作,常行施舍。 37 就在那些日子里,她患病死了。人们清洗了遗体,就放在楼上的房间。 38 利达约帕不远,门徒们听说彼得利达,就派了两个人到他那里,恳求他说:“请你来到我们这里,不要耽延!” 39 彼得就起身陪他们一起去。到了以后,他们把他领到楼上的房间。所有的寡妇都站在彼得旁边哭,把多卡丝与她们在一起的时候所缝制的衣服和袍子拿给他看。 40 彼得叫大家都出去,然后跪下祷告,接着转过身对着遗体,说:“塔比莎,你起来!”那妇人就睁开眼睛,看见彼得,而且坐了起来。 41 彼得伸手扶她站起来,又叫圣徒们和寡妇们进来,把活过来的多卡丝交给他们。 42 这事传遍了整个约帕,许多人就信了主。 43 后来,彼得约帕的一个硝皮匠西门家里住了许多日子。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 9:2 道——或译作“路”。
  2. 使徒行传 9:5 有古抄本附“你脚踢刺棒,是狂妄的。”
  3. 使徒行传 9:6 有古抄本附“他又惊恐,又战抖,说:‘主啊!你要我做什么呢?’主对他说:‘……’”
  4. 使徒行传 9:12 有古抄本没有“在异象中”。
  5. 使徒行传 9:15 宣扬——原文直译“担当”。
  6. 使徒行传 9:20 耶稣——有古抄本作“基督”。
  7. 使徒行传 9:28 主——有古抄本作“主耶稣”。
  8. 使徒行传 9:31 安慰——或译作“鼓励”。
  9. 使徒行传 9:36 羚羊——音译为“多卡丝”。

Saul’s Conversion(A)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) 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.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.(AB) 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?(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(AD) 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.(AE)

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,(AF) 24 but Saul learned of their plan.(AG) 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.(AH)

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(AI) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(AJ) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(AK) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(AL) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](AM) but they tried to kill him.(AN) 30 When the believers(AO) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(AP) and sent him off to Tarsus.(AQ)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(AR) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(AS)

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people(AT) who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.(AU) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon(AV) saw him and turned to the Lord.(AW)

36 In Joppa(AX) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good(AY) and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.(AZ) 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples(BA) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows(BB) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room;(BC) then he got down on his knees(BD) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”(BE) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.(BF) 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Saul encounters the risen Jesus

Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”

Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply. “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.”

Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one. After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything.

10 In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He answered, “Yes, Lord.”

11 The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.”

15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 After eating, he regained his strength.

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20 Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared.

21 Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

23 After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. 24 However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. 25 But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. 27 Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. 29 He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers.

Peter heals and raises the dead

32 As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God’s holy people in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed.” At once he got up. 35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need. 37 About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, “Please come right away!” 39 Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive.

40 Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called God’s holy people, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42 The news spread throughout Joppa, and many put their faith in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with a certain tanner named Simon.