Saul Becomes a Believer
1Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest. 2He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?”
5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus,” he replied. “I am the one you are opposing. 6Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.”
7The men traveling with Saul stood there. They weren’t able to speak. They had heard the sound. But they didn’t see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind. He didn’t eat or drink anything.
10In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. “Ananias!” he said.
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.”
13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”
15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19After eating some food, he got his strength back.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus. 20Right away he began to preach in the synagogues. He taught that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused great trouble in Jerusalem? Didn’t he make trouble for those who worship Jesus? Hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22But Saul grew more and more powerful. The Jews living in Damascus couldn’t believe what was happening. Saul proved to them that Jesus is the Messiah.
23After many days, the Jews had a meeting. They planned to kill Saul. 24But he learned about their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates closely in order to kill him. 25But his followers helped him escape by night. They lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the believers. But they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really one of Jesus’ followers. 27But Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them about Saul’s journey. He said that Saul had seen the Lord. He told how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also said that Saul had preached without fear in Jesus’ name in Damascus. 28So Saul stayed with the believers. He moved about freely in Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the Lord’s name. 29He talked and argued with the Greek Jews. But they tried to kill him. 30The other believers heard about this. They took Saul down to Caesarea. From there they sent him off to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The church was strengthened and grew larger. That’s because they worshiped the Lord and the Holy Spirit helped them.
Peter Heals Aeneas and Dorcas
32Peter traveled around the country. He went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed. 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!” So Aeneas got up right away. 35Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people. 37About that time she became sick and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. 38Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, “Please come at once!”
39Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.
40Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned toward the dead woman. He said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive. 42This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather.
Savlovo obraćenje
1A Savao, neprestano dišući prijetnjom ubojstva prema Gospodinovim učenicima, ode k velikom svećeniku. 2Zatraži od njega pisma za sinagoge u Damasku da može sve sljedbenike Puta, i muškarce i žene, na koje ondje naiđe, dovesti okovane u Jeruzalem.
3Kad se približio Damasku, odjednom ga obasja svjetlost s neba. 4Padne na zemlju. Začuje nato glas kako mu govori: “Savle, Savle! Zašto me progoniš?”
5“Tko si ti, Gospodine?” upita Savao.
“Ja sam Isus kojega ti progoniš”, odgovori glas. 6“Ustani i pođi u grad! Ondje će ti se reći što da činiš.”
7Savlovi su suputnici ostali bez riječi. Čuli su glas, ali nikoga nisu vidjeli. 8Savao ustane sa zemlje. Oči su mu bile otvorene, ali ništa nije vidio. Povedu ga zato za ruku i uvedu u Damask. 9Tri dana nije ništa vidio niti je jeo i pio.
10A u Damasku je živio vjernik9:10 U grčkome: učenik. U 9:19, 25, 26, 30 i 36 također. imenom Ananija. Njemu Gospodin reče u viđenju: “Ananija!”
“Molim, Gospodine?” odazove se on.
11Gospodin mu reče: “Idi u Ravnu ulicu, u Judinu kuću, i ondje potraži Savla iz Tarza. Eno ga ondje; moli se. 12U viđenju koje sam mu dao vidio je čovjeka imenom Ananija kako ulazi i polaže na njega ruke da progleda.”
13“Ali, Gospodine,” odgovori Ananija, “od tolikih sam čuo da je mnogo zla učinio tvojim svetima u Jeruzalemu! 14Ima punomoć od velikog svećenika da okuje u lance sve koji prizivaju tvoje ime.”
15Gospodin mu odgovori: “Idi i učini što ti kažem. Izabrao sam Savla da ponese moje ime poganima i kraljevima i izraelskome narodu. 16Pokazat ću mu koliko mora pretrpjeti zbog mojega imena.”
17Ananija ode onamo, položi ruke na Savla i reče: “Brate Savle, Gospodin Isus koji ti se ukazao na putu poslao me je da progledaš i da se napuniš Svetoga Duha.” 18Savlu s očiju odmah spadne nešto poput ljuski te progleda. Ustane zatim i krsti se. 19Onda nešto pojede i okrijepi se.
Savao u Damasku i Jeruzalemu
Savao je nekoliko dana ostao s vjernicima u Damasku. 20Smjesta je po sinagogama počeo propovijedati da je Isus Božji Sin.
21Svi koji su ga slušali bili su zaprepašteni. “Pa nije li ovo onaj isti koji je u Jeruzalemu istrebljivao Isusove sljedbenike?” pitali su. “Zar on nije došao ovamo zato da ih uhiti i okovane odvede pred velike svećenike?”
22Savlovo je propovijedanje bivalo sve silnije. Zbunjivao je Židove u Damasku dokazujući im da je Isus Mesija. 23Nakon podosta vremena, židovski ga vođe odluče pogubiti, 24ali Savao dozna za njihovu nakanu. Danonoćno su nadzirali gradska vrata ne bi li ga ubili. 25Zato ga vjernici noću spuste preko gradskoga zida u košari.
26Kad je Savao stigao u Jeruzalem, pokušao se sastati s vjernicima, ali svi su ga se bojali. Nisu vjerovali da je zaista vjernik. 27Tada ga Barnaba povede k apostolima te im ispriča da je Savao na putu u Damask vidio Gospodina i što mu je Gospodin rekao te kako je u Damasku hrabro propovijedao u Isusovo ime. 28Od tada se s njima slobodno družio po Jeruzalemu i hrabro je propovijedao u Gospodnje ime. 29Raspravljao je s nekim Židovima koji su govorili grčki pa ga oni nakane ubiti. 30Kad su vjernici za to čuli, odvedu ga u Cezareju i pošalju doma u Tarz.
31Crkva je u cijeloj Judeji, Galileji i Samariji živjela u miru. Izgrađivala se i napredovala. Vjernici su hodili u strahu Gospodnjemu i u utješeni Svetim Duhom.
Petar iscjeljuje Eneju i Tabitu
32Obilazeći svete posvuda, Petar je došao i k Božjemu narodu u gradu Lidi. 33Ondje upozna nekog čovjeka imenom Eneja, koji je osam godina ležao uzet u postelji. 34Petar mu reče: “Eneja, ozdravlja te Isus Krist! Ustani i namjesti postelju!” Čovjek smjesta ustane. 35Kad su to vidjeli svi žitelji Lide i Šarona, obrate se Gospodinu.
36U Jopi je živjela i vjernica imenom Tabita (što znači: “Košuta”). Život joj se sastojao u tomu da čini dobra i milosrdna djela. 37Upravo se tada ona razboli i umre. Pripremili su ju za pokop i položili ju u sobi na katu. 38Ali kad su čuli da je Petar blizu, u Lidi, pošalju k njemu dvojicu i zamole ga: “Odmah dođi k nama!”
39Petar zato odmah pođe s njima. Čim je stigao povedu ga u sobu na katu. Ondje ga okruže udovice plačući i pokazujući mu ogrtače i drugu odjeću koju im je Košuta izradila dok je bila s njima. 40Ali Petar ih sve pošalje iz sobe. Klekne i pomoli se, a zatim se okrene prema tijelu i reče: “Tabita, ustani!” Ona otvori oči, pogleda Petra i sjedne. 41On joj pruži ruku i pridigne ju. Zatim pozove udovice i svete pa im pokaže da je oživjela.
42Vijest se pronese cijelim gradom te mnogi povjeruju u Gospodina. 43Petar je neko vrijeme ostao u Jopi, u kući nekoga kožara Šimuna.
