Job Laments His Birth

After this Job (A)opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

(B)“Let the day perish on which I was born,
    and the night that said,
    ‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
    May God above not seek it,
    nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and (C)deep darkness claim it.
    Let clouds dwell upon it;
    let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
    Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
    let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren;
    let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day,
    who are ready to rouse up (D)Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
    let it hope for light, but have none,
    nor see (E)the eyelids of the morning,
10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,
    nor hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why (F)did I not die at birth,
    come out from the womb and expire?
12 Why did (G)the knees receive me?
    Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet;
    I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth
    who (H)rebuilt ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden (I)stillborn child,
    as infants who never see the light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
    and there the weary are at (J)rest.
18 There the prisoners are at ease together;
    they hear not the voice of (K)the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
    and the slave is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,
    and life to (L)the bitter in soul,
21 who (M)long for death, but it comes not,
    and dig for it more than for (N)hidden treasures,
22 who rejoice exceedingly
    and are glad when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose (O)way is hidden,
    whom God has (P)hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes (Q)instead of[a] my bread,
    and my (R)groanings are poured out like water.
25 (S)For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
    and what I dread befalls me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
    I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    Yet who can keep from speaking?
Behold, you have instructed many,
    and you have (T)strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
    and you have (U)made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
    it touches you, and you are dismayed.
(V)Is not your fear of God[b] your (W)confidence,
    and the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember: (X)who that was innocent ever perished?
    Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who (Y)plow iniquity
    and sow trouble reap the same.
By (Z)the breath of God they perish,
    and by (AA)the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
    (AB)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily;
    my ear received (AC)the whisper of it.
13 Amid (AD)thoughts from (AE)visions of the night,
    when (AF)deep sleep falls on men,
14 dread came upon me, and trembling,
    which made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit glided past my face;
    the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still,
    but I could not discern its appearance.
(AG)A form was before my eyes;
    there was silence, then I heard (AH)a voice:
17 (AI)‘Can mortal man be in the right before[c] God?
    Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Even in his servants (AJ)he puts no trust,
    and his angels he charges with error;
19 how much more those who dwell in houses of (AK)clay,
    whose foundation is in (AL)the dust,
    who are crushed like[d] (AM)the moth.
20 Between (AN)morning and evening they are beaten to pieces;
    they perish forever (AO)without anyone regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them,
    (AP)do they not die, and that without wisdom?’

Footnotes

  1. Job 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before
  2. Job 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God
  3. Job 4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse
  4. Job 4:19 Or before

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.(A) He said:

“May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’(B)
That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness(C) claim it once more;
    may a cloud settle over it;
    may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness(D) seize it;
    may it not be included among the days of the year
    nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
    may no shout of joy(E) be heard in it.
May those who curse days[a] curse that day,(F)
    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.(G)
May its morning stars become dark;
    may it wait for daylight in vain
    and not see the first rays of dawn,(H)
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
    to hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why did I not perish at birth,
    and die as I came from the womb?(I)
12 Why were there knees to receive me(J)
    and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down(K) in peace;
    I would be asleep and at rest(L)
14 with kings and rulers of the earth,(M)
    who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,(N)
15 with princes(O) who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.(P)
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,(Q)
    like an infant who never saw the light of day?(R)
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,(S)
    and there the weary are at rest.(T)
18 Captives(U) also enjoy their ease;
    they no longer hear the slave driver’s(V) shout.(W)
19 The small and the great are there,(X)
    and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,(Y)
21 to those who long for death that does not come,(Z)
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,(AA)
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?(AB)
23 Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,(AC)
    whom God has hedged in?(AD)
24 For sighing(AE) has become my daily food;(AF)
    my groans(AG) pour out like water.(AH)
25 What I feared has come upon me;
    what I dreaded(AI) has happened to me.(AJ)
26 I have no peace,(AK) no quietness;
    I have no rest,(AL) but only turmoil.”(AM)

Eliphaz

Then Eliphaz the Temanite(AN) replied:

“If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    But who can keep from speaking?(AO)
Think how you have instructed many,(AP)
    how you have strengthened feeble hands.(AQ)
Your words have supported those who stumbled;(AR)
    you have strengthened faltering knees.(AS)
But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;(AT)
    it strikes(AU) you, and you are dismayed.(AV)
Should not your piety be your confidence(AW)
    and your blameless(AX) ways your hope?

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?(AY)
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?(AZ)
As I have observed,(BA) those who plow evil(BB)
    and those who sow trouble reap it.(BC)
At the breath of God(BD) they perish;
    at the blast of his anger they are no more.(BE)
10 The lions may roar(BF) and growl,
    yet the teeth of the great lions(BG) are broken.(BH)
11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,(BI)
    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.(BJ)

12 “A word(BK) was secretly brought to me,
    my ears caught a whisper(BL) of it.(BM)
13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night,
    when deep sleep falls on people,(BN)
14 fear and trembling(BO) seized me
    and made all my bones shake.(BP)
15 A spirit glided past my face,
    and the hair on my body stood on end.(BQ)
16 It stopped,
    but I could not tell what it was.
A form stood before my eyes,
    and I heard a hushed voice:(BR)
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?(BS)
    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?(BT)
18 If God places no trust in his servants,(BU)
    if he charges his angels with error,(BV)
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,(BW)
    whose foundations(BX) are in the dust,(BY)
    who are crushed(BZ) more readily than a moth!(CA)
20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;
    unnoticed, they perish forever.(CB)
21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,(CC)
    so that they die(CD) without wisdom?’(CE)

Footnotes

  1. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea

Saul Ravages the Church

And (A)Saul (B)approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and (C)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But (D)Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he (E)dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

Now (F)those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (G)Philip went down to the city[a] of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. (H)And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him (I)and saw the signs that he did. For (J)unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So (K)there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

But there was a man named Simon, (L)who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, (M)saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, (N)“This man is the power of God that is called (O)Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had (P)amazed them with his magic. 12 But when (Q)they believed Philip as he preached good news (R)about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, (S)they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And (T)seeing signs and (U)great miracles[b] performed, (V)he was amazed.

14 Now when (W)the apostles at Jerusalem heard that (X)Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them (Y)that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for (Z)he had not yet (AA)fallen on any of them, but (AB)they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then (AC)they laid their hands on them and (AD)they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, (AE)“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God (AF)with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for (AG)your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, (AH)if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in (AI)the gall[c] of bitterness and in (AJ)the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, (AK)“Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, (AL)preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now (AM)an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[d] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an (AN)Ethiopian, a (AO)eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, (AP)who was in charge of all her treasure. (AQ)He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, (AR)“How can I, unless someone (AS)guides me?” And (AT)he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

(AU)“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
    and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his (AV)humiliation justice was denied him.
    Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and (AW)beginning with this Scripture (AX)he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! (AY)What prevents me from being baptized?”[e] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, (AZ)the Spirit of the Lord (BA)carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Conversion of Saul

But Saul, (BB)still (BC)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to (BD)the high priest and asked him for letters (BE)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (BF)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (BG)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (BH)me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, (BI)whom you are persecuting. But (BJ)rise and enter the city, and you will be told (BK)what you are to do.” (BL)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, (BM)hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, (BN)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named (BO)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, (BP)“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man (BQ)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (BR)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (BS)how much evil he has done to (BT)your (BU)saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from (BV)the chief priests to bind all who (BW)call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (BX)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (BY)before the Gentiles and (BZ)kings and the children of Israel. 16 For (CA)I will show him how much (CB)he must suffer (CC)for the sake of my name.” 17 So (CD)Ananias departed and entered the house. And (CE)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and (CF)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and (CG)he regained his sight. Then (CH)he rose and was baptized; 19 and (CI)taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For (CJ)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, (CK)“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who (CL)made havoc (CM)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul (CN)increased all the more in strength, and (CO)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving (CP)that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 (CQ)When many days had passed, the Jews[f] plotted to kill him, 24 but their (CR)plot became known to Saul. (CS)They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and (CT)let him down through an opening in the wall,[g] lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And (CU)when 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. 27 But (CV)Barnabas took him and (CW)brought him to the apostles and declared to them (CX)how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and (CY)how at Damascus he had (CZ)preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went (DA)in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against (DB)the Hellenists.[h] But (DC)they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when (DD)the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off (DE)to Tarsus.

31 So (DF)the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And (DG)walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, (DH)it multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now (DI)as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, (DJ)Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 (DK)And all the residents of Lydda and (DL)Sharon saw him, and (DM)they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in (DN)Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[i] She was full of (DO)good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in (DP)an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, (DQ)“Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to (DR)the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[j] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter (DS)put them all outside, and (DT)knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body (DU)he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and (DV)many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days (DW)with one Simon, a tanner.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:5 Some manuscripts a city
  2. Acts 8:13 Greek works of power
  3. Acts 8:23 That is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile
  4. Acts 8:26 Or go at about noon
  5. Acts 8:36 Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
  6. Acts 9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
  7. Acts 9:25 Greek through the wall
  8. Acts 9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
  9. Acts 9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle
  10. Acts 9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

And Saul(A) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.(C) Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul(D) began to destroy the church.(E) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

Those who had been scattered(F) preached the word wherever they went.(G) Philip(H) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,(I) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.(J) So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(K) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,(L) 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”(M) 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God(N) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,(O) both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles(P) he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria(Q) had accepted the word of God,(R) they sent Peter and John(S) to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,(T) 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;(U) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(V) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,(W) and they received the Holy Spirit.(X)

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!(Y) 21 You have no part or share(Z) in this ministry, because your heart is not right(AA) before God. 22 Repent(AB) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me(AC) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord(AD) and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.(AE)

Philip and the Ethiopian

26 Now an angel(AF) of the Lord said to Philip,(AG) “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a](AH) eunuch,(AI) an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,(AJ) 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told(AK) Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”[b](AL)

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began(AM) with that very passage of Scripture(AN) and told him the good news(AO) about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”(AP) [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,(AQ) and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns(AR) until he reached Caesarea.(AS)

Saul’s Conversion(AT)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(AU) He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(AV) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(AW) 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.(AX) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(AY) 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.”(AZ)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(BA) but did not see anyone.(BB) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(BC) 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,(BD) “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(BE) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(BF) 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(BG) in Jerusalem.(BH) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(BI) to arrest all who call on your name.”(BJ)

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

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

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(BR) in Damascus.(BS) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(BT) that Jesus is the Son of God.(BU) 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?(BV) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(BW) 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.(BX)

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

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(CB) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(CC) 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,(CD) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(CE) 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,[d](CF) but they tried to kill him.(CG) 30 When the believers(CH) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(CI) and sent him off to Tarsus.(CJ)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(CK) 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.(CL)

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people(CM) 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.(CN) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon(CO) saw him and turned to the Lord.(CP)

36 In Joppa(CQ) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good(CR) and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.(CS) 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples(CT) 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(CU) 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;(CV) then he got down on his knees(CW) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”(CX) 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.(CY) 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.(CZ)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:27 That is, from the southern Nile region
  2. Acts 8:33 Isaiah 53:7,8 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 8:37 Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
  4. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture