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dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
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And Saul 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 throughout Judea and Samaria.
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But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
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Saul’s Conversion
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
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He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
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“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
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The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
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Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
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The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
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Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on 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.”
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Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
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and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
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Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
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but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
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But Barnabas 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, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
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So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
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Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
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and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
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This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
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Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
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While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
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who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
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Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,
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Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
