Beginning
9 Saul was still very angry with the Lord's disciples. He said he would kill them. He went to the high priest.
2 He asked him for letters to take to the meeting places at Damascus. In this way he was given the power to catch any men or women disciples. He could tie them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3 He went on his way. All at once, near the city of Damascus, a light from the sky shone around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard someone say, `Saul, Saul, why are you troubling me?'
5 Saul said, `Who are you, Lord?' The Lord said, `I am Jesus. You are troubling me.
6 But get up and go to the city. There you will be told what you must do.'
7 The men who had come with Saul stood there. They did not say a word. They heard a voice but did not see anyone.
8 Saul got up off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. They took his hand and led him to Damascus.
9 For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.
10 A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said. `Ananias.' He replied, `Here I am, Lord.'
11 The Lord said, `Go into the street which is called Straight. At the house of Judas, ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus. He is there, talking with God.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming to him. He has seen him put his hands on him so that he may see again.'
13 Then Ananias replied, `Lord, often I have heard of this man. He has brought much trouble to your people at Jerusalem.
14 The chief priests have given him power in this city to put into prison all those who call on your name.'
15 The Lord said, `Go, I have chosen him to take my name to the people who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel also.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.'
17 Then Ananias went. He went into the house and put his hands on Saul. He said, `Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus came to you on the road while you were coming here. He has sent me to you so that you may see again, and that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.'
18 At once some kind of skin which had covered Saul's eyes came off. He was able to see again from then on. He got up and was baptised.
19 And when he had eaten food, he was strong again. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Right away he went to the Jewish meeting places and told the people that Jesus is the Son of God.
21 All the people who heard him were surprised. They said, `This man killed the people who called on Jesus' name in Jerusalem. He came here to catch them and tie them and take them to the chief priests!'
22 But Saul became stronger and stronger. He proved that Jesus is the Christ and made it so plain that the Jews at Damascus did not know what to say.
23 Then some time after that, the leaders of the Jews planned to kill Saul.
24 But he found out that they were waiting for him. The Jewish leaders watched the gates of the city night and day. They were waiting for a chance to kill him.
25 Then one night the disciples put him in a basket and let him down outside the city wall.
26 When Saul came to Jerusalem, he wanted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them, `Saul has seen the Lord on the road. The Lord has talked to him. After that he told God's word in the name of Jesus, without fear at Damascus.'
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went around in Jerusalem. He told God's word in the name of the Lord Jesus without fear.
29 He talked to the Jews who spoke the Greek language. But they did not agree with Saul, and so they made plans to kill him.
30 When the Christian brothers knew that, they took him to Caesarea. Then they sent him to Tarsus [the city where he was born].
31 After that, the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were not troubled any more and they believed more strongly. The people obeyed the Lord, and the Holy Spirit helped them to believe. And many more people joined them.
32 While Peter was travelling through all the towns, he came to visit God's people who lived in the city of Lydda.
33 There he saw a man named Aeneas who was sick. He could not stand up. He had been on his bed for eight years.
34 Peter said to him, `Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!' The man got up at once.
35 All the people who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 In the city of Joppa there was a disciple. Her name was Tabitha. That means Dorcas or Gazelle. She did much good work and she gave many things to the poor people.
37 She became sick and died. They bathed her body and put her in a room upstairs.
38 Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda, they sent two men and asked for him to come quickly.
39 Peter got up and went with them. When he got there, they took him to the room upstairs. Women whose husbands were dead stood there crying. They showed Peter the clothes and coats that Dorcas had made for them while she was with them.
40 Peter put them all out. He kneeled down and talked to God. He turned to the body and said, `Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 He took her hand and helped her get up. Then he called in God's people and the women, and he gave her back to them alive.
42 All over Joppa people heard about this. Many people believed on the Lord.
43 Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He was with a man named Simon, who made skins into leather.
10 In Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius. He was a big captain in the army. His soldiers were called the Italian Group.
2 He was a good man. He and all the people of his house obeyed God. He gave many gifts to the poor. He always talked with God.
3 About three o'clock one afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God coming to him in a vision. `Cornelius,' said the angel.
4 Cornelius looked at him. He was afraid and asked, `What is it, Sir?' The angel answered him, `God has heard what you said to him. He has remembered your gifts to the poor.
5 Send men to Joppa to call Simon, whose other name is Peter.
6 He is staying with Simon, the man who makes skins into leather. His house is by the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do.'
7 When the angel which spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his house servants. He also called one of the soldiers who believed in God and who always helped him.
8 He told them carefully all about his vision. Then he sent them to Joppa.
9 They went the next day. They were coming near to the city. About midday, Peter went up on the flat roof of the house to talk with God.
10 He became very hungry and wanted to eat. While food was being made ready, something like a dream came over him.
11 He saw the sky open. A bundle like a big blanket was tied by the corners. It was let down to earth.
12 In the bundle were all kinds of animals and snakes and birds.
13 Then Peter heard a voice saying to him, `Get up, Peter. Kill some and eat.'
14 But Peter said, `No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is not holy or not clean.'
15 Then the voice spoke to him again, saying, `What God has made clean you must not call unholy.'
16 This happened three times. Then the thing was taken up right away into the sky.
17 `I have seen a strange thing,' Peter said to himself. `I wonder what it all means.' He was thinking about all this. And the men whom Cornelius sent had asked the way to Simon's house. Now they stood at the gate.
18 `Is this where Simon Peter is staying?' they called.
19 Peter was still thinking about what he had seen. Then the Spirit of God said to him, `Three men are looking for you.
20 Get up. Go down and go with them. Do not fear to go, because I have sent them.'
21 Then Peter went down to the men whom Cornelius had sent to him. He said, `Here I am. You are looking for me. Why have you come?'
22 They answered, `God sent a holy angel to Cornelius. He told him to call you to his house and hear what you have to say. Cornelius is a captain in the army. He is a good man. He does what is right and obeys God. All the Jews speak well of him.'
23 Peter said, `Come in.' He had them stay as his guests. The next day he and some of the Christian brothers from Joppa went with the men.
24 The day after that, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had called his family and close friends together.
25 Peter was about to enter the house. Cornelius met him. He kneeled down at his feet and worshipped him.
26 But Peter raised him up and said, `Please stand up. I too am only a man.
27 Peter talked to him and went in with him. He saw many people who had come together.
28 He began to talk with them. He said, `You yourselves know it is against our law for a Jew to visit and be friends with someone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
29 So when you sent for me, I did not say "No". Now I ask, why did you send for me?'
30 Cornelius answered, `Four days ago, it was just at this time, three o'clock. I was in my house talking with God. I had not eaten any food. A man stood in front of me wearing shining clothes.
31 He said to me, "Cornelius, God has heard what you said to him. He has remembered your gifts to the poor.
32 Send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, the man who makes skins into leather. His house is by the sea."
33 So I sent for you right away. You have done well to come. Now we are all here before God to hear all that the Lord has told you to tell me.'
34 Then Peter began to speak, `I really understand now. God does not love some people more than others.
35 But he takes anyone who obeys him. He takes anyone who does what is right. It does not matter to what nation they belong.
36 To the people of Israel God has sent the good news. He gives peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all!
37 You yourselves know the story of what happened all through Judea. It started in Galilee after the baptism which John talked about.
38 God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went about doing good deeds. He healed all those who were held by the devil. God was with him.
39 We saw all the things which he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they hung him on a piece of wood and killed him.
40 On the third day, God raised him up to let people see him.
41 Not all the people saw him. But God had chosen us to see and to talk about him. We saw him. We ate and drank with him after he rose from death.
42 He told us to tell the people that God chose him to judge both the living people and the dead people.
43 All the prophets tell about him. They say, "Everyone who believes in him will have his wrong ways forgiven through his name." '
44 While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the message.
45 The believers who came with Peter were Jews. They were very much surprised that the Holy Spirit was also sent to those who were not Jews. 46,
46-47 hey heard them speak in tongues of other languages and praise God. Then Peter said, `These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Can anyone say they may not be baptised in water?'
48 So he said they were to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. They begged him to stay with them for a while.
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications