Acts 9:23-43

English Standard Version

Saul Escapes from Damascus

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

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ And ^(E)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 ^(F)Barnabas took him and ^(G)brought him to the apostles and declared to them ^(H)how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and ^(I)how at Damascus he had ^(J)preached boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So he went ^(K)in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he spoke and disputed against ^(L)the Hellenists.^[c] But ^(M)they were seeking to kill him. ³⁰ And when ^(N)the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off ^(O)to Tarsus.

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

The Healing of Aeneas

³² Now ^(S)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, ^(T)Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. ^35 (U)And all the residents of Lydda and ^(V)Sharon saw him, and ^(W)they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶ Now there was in ^(X)Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.^[d] She was full of ^(Y)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 ^(Z)an upper room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ^(AA)“Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹ So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to ^(AB)the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics^[e] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter ^(AC)put them all outside, and ^(AD)knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body ^(AE)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 ^(AF)many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And he stayed in Joppa for many days ^(AG)with one Simon, a tanner.