Atos 9

1 Enquanto isso, Saulo só respirava ameaças e morte contra os discípulos do Senhor. Apresentou-se ao príncipe dos sacerdotes,

2 e pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damas­co, com o fim de levar presos a Jerusalém todos os homens e mulhe­res que achasse seguindo essa doutrina.

3 Durante a viagem, estando já perto de Damas­co, subitamente o cercou uma luz resplandecente vinda do céu.

4 Caindo por terra, ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: "Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues?".

5 Saulo disse: "Quem és, Senhor?" Respondeu ele: "Eu sou Jesus, a quem tu persegues. [Duro te é recalcitrar contra o aguilhão".

6 Então, trêmulo e atônito, disse ele: "Senhor, que queres que eu faça?". Respondeu-lhe o Senhor:] "Levanta-te, entra na cidade. Aí te será dito o que deves fazer".

7 Os homens que o acompanhavam enchiam-se de espanto, pois ouviam perfeitamente a voz, mas não viam ninguém.

8 Saulo levantou-se do chão. Abrindo, porém, os olhos, não via nada. Tomaram-no pela mão e o introduziram em Damas­co,

9 onde esteve três dias sem ver, sem comer nem beber.

10 Havia em Damasco um discípulo chamado Ananias. O Senhor, numa visão, lhe disse: "Ananias!" –. "Eis-me aqui, Senhor" – respondeu ele.

11 O Senhor lhe ordenou: "Levanta-te e vai à rua Direita, e pergunta em casa de Judas por um homem de Tarso, chamado Saulo; ele está orando".

12 (Este via numa visão um homem, chamado Ananias, entrar e impor-lhe as mãos para recobrar a vista.)

13 Ana­nias respondeu: "Senhor, muitos já me falaram deste homem, quantos males fez aos teus fiéis em Jerusalém.

14 E aqui ele tem poder dos príncipes dos sacerdotes para prender a todos aqueles que invocam o teu nome".

15 Mas o Senhor lhe disse: "Vai, porque este homem é para mim um instrumento escolhido, que levará o meu nome dian­te das nações, dos reis e dos filhos de Israel.

16 Eu lhe mostrarei tudo o que terá de padecer pelo meu nome".

17 Ananias foi. Entrou na casa e, impondo-lhe as mãos, disse: "Saulo, meu irmão, o Senhor, esse Jesus que te apareceu no caminho, enviou-me para que recobres a vista e fiques cheio do Espírito Santo".

18 No mesmo instante, caíram dos olhos de Saulo umas como que escamas, e recuperou a vista. Levantou-se e foi batizado.

19 Depois tomou alimento e sentiu-se fortalecido. Demorou-se por alguns dias com os discípulos que se achavam em Damasco.

20 Imediatamente começou a proclamar pelas sinagogas que Jesus é o Filho de Deus.

21 Todos os seus ouvintes pasmavam e diziam: "Este não é aquele que perseguia em Jerusalém os que invocam o nome de Jesus? Não veio cá só para levá-los presos aos sumos sacerdotes?".

22 Saulo, porém, sentia crescer o seu poder e confundia os judeus de Da­masco, demonstrando que Jesus é o Cristo.

23 Decorridos alguns dias, os judeus deliberaram, em conselho, matá-lo.

24 Essas intenções chegaram ao conhecimento de Saulo. Guardavam eles as portas de dia e de noite, para matá-lo.

25 Mas os discípulos, tomando-o de noite, fizeram-no descer pela muralha dentro de um cesto.

26 Chegando a Jerusalém, tentava ajuntar-se aos discípulos, mas todos o temiam, não querendo crer que se tivesse tornado discípulo.

27 Então Barnabé, levando-o consigo, apresentou-o aos apóstolos e contou-lhes como Saulo vira o Senhor no caminho, e que lhe havia falado, e como em Damasco pregara, com desassombro, o nome de Jesus.

28 Daí por diante permaneceu com eles, saindo e entrando em Jerusalém, e pregando, destemidamente, o nome do Senhor.

29 Falava também e discutia com os helenistas. Mas estes procuravam matá-lo.

30 Os irmãos, informados disso, acompanharam-no até Cesareia e dali o fizeram partir para Tarso.

31 A Igreja gozava então de paz por toda a Judeia, Galileia e Samaria. Estabelecia-se ela cami­nhando no temor do Senhor, e a assistência do Espírito Santo a fazia crescer em número.

32 Pedro, que caminhava por toda parte, de cidade em cidade, desceu também aos fiéis que ha­bitavam em Lida.

33 Ali achou um homem chamado Eneias, que havia oito anos jazia paralítico num leito.

34 Disse-lhe Pedro: "Eneias, Jesus Cristo te cura: levanta-te e faze tua cama". E levantou-se imediatamente.

35 Viram-no todos os que habitavam em Lida e em Sarona, e converteram-se ao Senhor.

36 Em Jope, havia uma discípula chamada Tabita – em grego, Dorcas. Esta era rica em boas obras e esmolas que dava.

37 Aconteceu que adoecera naqueles dias e veio a falecer. Depois de a terem lavado, levaram-na para o quarto de cima.

38 Ora, como Lida fica perto de Jope, os discípulos, ouvindo dizer que Pedro aí se encontrava, enviaram-lhe dois homens, rogando-lhe: "Não te demores em vir ter conosco".

39 Pedro levantou-se imediatamente e foi com eles. Logo que chegou, conduziram-no ao quarto de cima. Cercavam-no todas as viúvas, chorando e mostrando-lhe as túnicas e os vestidos que Dorcas lhes fazia quando viva.

40 , então, tendo feito todos sairem, pôs-se de joelhos e orou. Voltando-se para o corpo, disse: "Tabita, levanta-te!". Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo Pedro, sentou-se.

41 Ele a fez levantar-se, estendendo-lhe a mão. Chamando os irmãos e as viúvas, entregou-lha viva.

42 Esse fato espalhou-se por toda a Jope e muitos creram no Senhor.

43 Pedro permaneceu ainda muitos dias em Jope, em casa de um curtidor, chamado Simão.

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5 He said, "Who are you, Lord?"

The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.*9:5 TR adds "It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods." 6 But*9:6 TR omits "But" rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do."

7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

He said, "Behold, it’s me, Lord."

11 The Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah*9:11 or, Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight."

13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake."

17 Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. 19 He took food and was strengthened.

Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!"

22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He was with them entering into*9:28 TR and NU add "and going out" Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.*9:29 TR and NU omit "Jesus" and reverse the order of verses 28 & 29. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists,*9:29 The Hellenists were Hebrews who used Greek language and culture. but they were seeking to kill him. 30 When the brothers*9:30 The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings." knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

32 As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" Immediately he arose. 35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas.*9:36 "Dorcas" is Greek for "Gazelle." This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37 In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men*9:38 Reading from NU, TR; MT omits "two men" to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.