掃羅歸主

掃羅繼續用兇狠的話恐嚇主的門徒。他去見大祭司, 要取得授權書到大馬士革的各會堂搜捕信耶穌的人,無論男女,都要把他們押回耶路撒冷。

當他快到大馬士革的時候,突然有一道光從天上射下來,四面照著他。 他倒在地上,聽見有聲音對他說:「掃羅!掃羅!你為什麼迫害我?」 他說:「主啊,你是誰?」那聲音說:「我就是你所迫害的耶穌。 起來!進城去,有人會告訴你該做的事。」

同行的人站在那裡只聽見聲音,卻看不見人,嚇得張口結舌。 掃羅爬起來,睜大眼睛,卻什麼也看不見,同伴拉著他的手進了大馬士革。 一連三天,掃羅什麼也看不見,也不吃也不喝。

10 這時候,在大馬士革有個門徒名叫亞拿尼亞,他在異象中聽見主呼喚他的名字,就回答說:「主啊,我在這裡。」

11 主說:「起來,到直街的猶大家去見一個來自大數、名叫掃羅的人,他正在向我禱告。 12 我讓他在異象中看見一個名叫亞拿尼亞的人去他那裡,把手按在他身上,使他恢復視力。」

13 亞拿尼亞回答說:「主啊!我聽見許多人說他對耶路撒冷的信徒大加迫害。 14 他來這裡是得到祭司長的授權,要拘捕所有求告你名的人。」

15 主對亞拿尼亞說:「你放心去吧!他是我揀選的器皿,要向外族人、君王和以色列人宣揚我的名。 16 我會讓他知道他必為我的名而受許多的苦。」

17 亞拿尼亞去了,進了那家,就把手按在掃羅身上,說:「掃羅弟兄,在你來的路上向你顯現的主耶穌派我來使你重見光明、被聖靈充滿。」 18 頓時,掃羅的眼睛上有鱗片似的東西脫落,他立刻恢復了視力,便起來接受了洗禮。 19 他吃過東西之後,體力也恢復了。他和大馬士革的門徒住了幾天之後, 20 便到各會堂去宣講:「耶穌是上帝的兒子。」

21 聽的人都大吃一驚,說:「他不就是那在耶路撒冷迫害信徒的人嗎?他到這裡來不是要把大馬士革的信徒押去見祭司長嗎?」

22 但掃羅越發有能力,引經據典證明耶穌是基督,使大馬士革的猶太人驚慌失措。

掃羅逃生

23 過了一段日子,猶太人圖謀殺死掃羅。 24 他們晝夜在城門守候,伺機下手,但這陰謀被掃羅知道了。 25 他的門徒趁夜間用筐子把他從城牆上縋下去。

26 掃羅逃到耶路撒冷後,曾設法與當地的門徒聯絡,可是他們都怕他,不相信他是門徒。 27 只有巴拿巴接待他,帶他去見使徒,向他們陳述掃羅如何在路上遇見主,主如何對他說話,他又如何勇敢地在大馬士革奉耶穌的名傳道。 28 於是,掃羅就在耶路撒冷與使徒一起出入來往,奉主的名放膽傳道。 29 他常常跟那些講希臘話的猶太人辯論,於是他們打算殺掉他。 30 弟兄姊妹知道這消息後,就把掃羅帶到凱撒利亞,然後送他到大數去。

31 當時,猶太、加利利、撒瑪利亞各地的教會都很平安,得到了堅固。信徒們非常敬畏主,又得到聖靈的安慰,人數越來越多。

彼得醫治癱子

32 彼得四處奔波,來到呂大探訪那裡的信徒, 33 遇見一個已經臥床八年、名叫以尼雅的癱子。 34 彼得對他說:「以尼雅,耶穌基督已經醫好你了,起來收拾你的墊子吧!」他立刻應聲而起。 35 呂大和沙崙的居民看見他,都歸向了主。

彼得使死人復活

36 在約帕有個樂善好施的女信徒名叫戴碧達,希臘話叫多加,意思是「羚羊」。 37 當時,她患病死了。有人將她的屍體洗乾淨後,停放在樓上。 38 呂大和約帕相距不遠,門徒聽說彼得在呂大,就派兩個人趕去請他立刻來約帕。 39 彼得便隨他們一同到了那裡,有人領他上樓。眾寡婦都站在彼得周圍哭,並把多加生前縫制的內衣、外衣給他看。

40 彼得叫她們都出去,自己跪下禱告,然後轉身對死者說:「戴碧達,起來!」她便睜開了眼睛,看見彼得,就坐了起來。 41 彼得伸手扶她起來後,叫那些在外面等候的門徒和寡婦進來,把活過來的多加交給他們。 42 這事傳遍了整個約帕,許多人都信了主。 43 彼得繼續留在約帕,在當地一個名叫西門的皮革匠家住了好些日子。

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 Becomes a Follower of the Lord

(Acts 22.6-16; 26.12-18)

Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to the leaders of the synagogues in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way.[a] When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”

“Who are you?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”

(A) The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.

10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.”

13 Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”

15 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.”

17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 (B) Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus. 20 Soon he went to the synagogues and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn't he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?”

22 Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah.

23 (C) Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24 but he found out about it. He learned that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25 Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. 27 Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus.

28 Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29 He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30 But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.

31 The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.

Peter Heals Aeneas

32 While Peter was traveling from place to place, he visited the Lord's followers who lived in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been sick in bed and could not move. 34 Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make up your bed.”[b] At once he stood up.

35 Many people in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas and became followers of the Lord.

Peter Brings Dorcas Back to Life

36 In Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha. Her Greek name was Dorcas, which means “deer.” She was always doing good things for people and had given much to the poor. 37 But she got sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Joppa wasn't far from Lydda, and the followers heard that Peter was there. They sent two men to say to him, “Please come with us as quickly as you can!” 39 At once, Peter went with them.

The men took Peter upstairs into the room. Many widows were there crying. They showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was still alive.

40 After Peter had sent everyone out of the room, he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body of Dorcas and said, “Tabitha, get up!” The woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.

Peter called in the widows and the other followers and showed them that Dorcas had been raised from death. 42 Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed on for a while in Joppa in the house of a man named Simon, who made leather.

Footnotes

  1. 9.2 accepted the Lord's Way: In the book of Acts, this means to become a follower of the Lord Jesus.
  2. 9.34 and make up your bed: Or “and fix something to eat.”