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.
A Conversão de Saulo
1Enquanto isso, Saulo ainda respirava ameaças de morte contra os discípulos do Senhor. Dirigindo-se ao sumo sacerdote, 2pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damasco, de maneira que, caso encontrasse ali homens ou mulheres que pertencessem ao Caminho, pudesse levá-los presos para Jerusalém. 3Em sua viagem, quando se aproximava de Damasco, de repente brilhou ao seu redor uma luz vinda do céu. 4Ele caiu por terra e ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: “Saulo, Saulo, por que você me persegue?”
5Saulo perguntou: “Quem és tu, Senhor?”
Ele respondeu: “Eu sou Jesus, a quem você persegue. 6Levante-se, entre na cidade; alguém dirá o que você deve fazer”.
7Os homens que viajavam com Saulo pararam emudecidos; ouviam a voz, mas não viam ninguém. 8Saulo levantou-se do chão e, abrindo os olhos, não conseguia ver nada. E os homens o levaram pela mão até Damasco. 9Por três dias ele esteve cego, não comeu nem bebeu.
10Em Damasco havia um discípulo chamado Ananias. O Senhor o chamou numa visão: “Ananias!”
“Eis-me aqui, Senhor”, respondeu ele.
11O Senhor lhe disse: “Vá à casa de Judas, na rua chamada Direita, e pergunte por um homem de Tarso chamado Saulo. Ele está orando; 12numa visão viu um homem chamado Ananias chegar e impor-lhe as mãos para que voltasse a ver”.
13Respondeu Ananias: “Senhor, tenho ouvido muita coisa a respeito desse homem e de todo o mal que ele tem feito aos teus santos em Jerusalém. 14Ele chegou aqui com autorização dos chefes dos sacerdotes para prender todos os que invocam o teu nome”.
15Mas o Senhor disse a Ananias: “Vá! Este homem é meu instrumento escolhido para levar o meu nome perante os gentios e seus reis, e perante o povo de Israel. 16Mostrarei a ele quanto deve sofrer pelo meu nome”.
17Então Ananias foi, entrou na casa, pôs as mãos sobre Saulo e disse: “Irmão Saulo, o Senhor Jesus, que apareceu no caminho por onde você vinha, enviou-me para que você volte a ver e seja cheio do Espírito Santo”. 18Imediatamente, algo como escamas caiu dos olhos de Saulo e ele passou a ver novamente. Levantando-se, foi batizado 19e, depois de comer, recuperou as forças.
Saulo em Damasco e em Jerusalém
Saulo passou vários dias com os discípulos em Damasco. 20Logo começou a pregar nas sinagogas que Jesus é o Filho de Deus. 21Todos os que o ouviam ficavam perplexos e perguntavam: “Não é ele o homem que procurava destruir em Jerusalém aqueles que invocam este nome? E não veio para cá justamente para levá-los presos aos chefes dos sacerdotes?” 22Todavia, Saulo se fortalecia cada vez mais e confundia os judeus que viviam em Damasco, demonstrando que Jesus é o Cristo.
23Decorridos muitos dias, os judeus decidiram de comum acordo matá-lo, 24mas Saulo ficou sabendo do plano deles. Dia e noite eles vigiavam as portas da cidade a fim de matá-lo. 25Mas os seus discípulos o levaram de noite e o fizeram descer num cesto, através de uma abertura na muralha.
26Quando chegou a Jerusalém, tentou reunir-se aos discípulos, mas todos estavam com medo dele, não acreditando que fosse realmente um discípulo. 27Então Barnabé o levou aos apóstolos e lhes contou como, no caminho, Saulo vira o Senhor, que lhe falara, e como em Damasco ele havia pregado corajosamente em nome de Jesus. 28Assim, Saulo ficou com eles e andava com liberdade em Jerusalém, pregando corajosamente em nome do Senhor. 29Falava e discutia com os judeus de fala grega, mas estes tentavam matá-lo. 30Sabendo disso, os irmãos o levaram para Cesareia e o enviaram para Tarso.
31A igreja passava por um período de paz em toda a Judeia, Galileia e Samaria. Ela se edificava e, encorajada pelo Espírito Santo, crescia em número, vivendo no temor do Senhor.
Eneias e Dorcas
32Viajando por toda parte, Pedro foi visitar os santos que viviam em Lida. 33Ali encontrou um paralítico chamado Eneias, que estava acamado fazia oito anos. 34Disse-lhe Pedro: “Eneias, Jesus Cristo vai curá-lo! Levante-se e arrume a sua cama”. Ele se levantou imediatamente. 35Todos os que viviam em Lida e Sarona o viram e se converteram ao Senhor.
36Em Jope havia uma discípula chamada Tabita, que em grego é Dorcas9.36 Tanto Tabita (aramaico) como Dorcas (grego) significam gazela., que se dedicava a praticar boas obras e dar esmolas. 37Naqueles dias ela ficou doente e morreu, e seu corpo foi lavado e colocado num quarto do andar superior. 38Lida ficava perto de Jope, e, quando os discípulos ouviram falar que Pedro estava em Lida, mandaram-lhe dois homens dizer-lhe: “Não se demore em vir até nós”.
39Pedro foi com eles e, quando chegou, foi levado para o quarto do andar superior. Todas as viúvas o rodearam, chorando e mostrando-lhe os vestidos e outras roupas que Dorcas tinha feito quando ainda estava com elas.
40Pedro mandou que todos saíssem do quarto; depois, ajoelhou-se e orou. Voltando-se para a mulher morta, disse: “Tabita, levante-se”. Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo Pedro, sentou-se. 41Tomando-a pela mão, ajudou-a a pôr-se em pé. Então, chamando os santos e as viúvas, apresentou-a viva. 42Este fato se tornou conhecido em toda a cidade de Jope, e muitos creram no Senhor. 43Pedro ficou em Jope durante algum tempo, com um curtidor de couro chamado Simão.
