New Testament in a Year
22 But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah.[a]
23 After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders[b] plotted to murder Saul,[c] 24 but their plot became known to him.[d] They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him, 25 but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket.
26 When Saul[e] arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldn’t believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, introduced Saul[f] to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saul[g] had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 So he freely circulated[h] among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. 29 He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him. 30 When the brothers found out about the plot,[i] they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
Aeneas is Healed
32 Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples,[j] he also visited the saints living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah[k] is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!” At once he got up, 35 and all the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Tabitha is Healed
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha,[l] which in Greek is Dorcas.[m] She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. 37 At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, “Come here quickly!” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter,[n] crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. 42 What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile, Peter[o] stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.