1 But Saul, still burning with desire to put to death the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

2 And made a request for letters from him to the Synagogues of Damascus, so that if there were any of the Way there, men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

3 And while he was journeying, he came near Damascus; and suddenly he saw a light from heaven shining round him;

4 And he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?

5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are attacking:

6 But get up, and go into the town, and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.

7 And the men who were with him were not able to say anything; hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

8 And Saul got up from the earth, and when his eyes were open, he saw nothing; and he was guided by the hand into Damascus.

9 And for three days he was not able to see, and he took no food or drink.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Here I am, Lord.

11 And the Lord said to him, Get up, and go to the street which is named Straight, and make search at the house of Judas for one named Saul of Tarsus: for he is at prayer;

12 And he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he may be able to see.

13 But Ananias said, Lord, I have had accounts of this man from a number of people, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to make prisoners all who give worship to your name.

15 But the Lord said, Go without fear: for he is a special vessel for me, to give to the Gentiles and kings and to the children of Israel the knowledge of my name:

16 For I will make clear to him what troubles he will have to undergo for me.

17 And Ananias went out and came to the house, and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, whom you saw when you were on your journey, has sent me, so that you may be able to see, and be full of the Holy Spirit.

18 And straight away it seemed as if a veil was taken from his eyes, and he was able to see; and he got up, and had baptism;

19 And when he had taken food his strength came back. And for some days he kept with the disciples who were in Damascus.

20 And straight away, in the Synagogues, he was preaching Jesus as the Son of God.

21 And all those hearing him were full of wonder and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem was attacking all the worshippers of this name? and he had come here so that he might take them as prisoners before the chief priests.

22 But Saul went on increasing in power, and the Jews in Damascus were not able to give answers to the arguments by which he made it clear that Jesus was the Christ.

23 Then, after some days, the Jews made an agreement together to put him to death:

24 But Saul got knowledge of their design. And they kept watch day and night on the roads out of the town, so that they might put him to death:

25 But his disciples took him by night and let him down from the wall in a basket.

26 And when he came to Jerusalem, he made an attempt to be joined to the disciples, but they were all in fear of him, not taking him for a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him to the Apostles and gave them an account of how he had seen the Lord on the road, and had given hearing to his words, and how at Damascus he had been preaching in the name of Jesus without fear.

28 And he was with them, going in and out at Jerusalem,

29 Preaching in the name of the Lord without fear; and he had discussions with the Greek Jews; but they were working for his death.

30 And when the brothers had knowledge of it, they took him to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

31 And so the church through all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was made strong; and, living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was increased greatly.

32 And it came about that while Peter was going through all parts of the country he came to the saints who were living at Lydda.

33 And there was a certain man there, named Aeneas, who for eight years had been in bed, without power of moving.

34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well: get up and make your bed. And straight away he got up.

35 And all those living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and were turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, that is, Dorcas: this woman was given to good works and acts of mercy at all times.

37 And it came about, in those days, that she got ill and came to her death: and when she had been washed, they put her in a room which was high up.

38 And because Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having knowledge that Peter was there, sent two men to him, requesting him to come to them straight away.

39 And Peter went with them. And when he had come, they took him into the room: and all the widows were there, weeping and putting before him the coats and clothing which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 But Peter made them all go outside, and went down on his knees in prayer; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, get up. And, opening her eyes, she saw Peter and got up.

41 And he took her hand, lifting her up; and, sending for the saints and widows, he gave her to them, living.

42 And news of it went all through Joppa, and a number of people had faith in the Lord.

43 And he was living in Joppa for some time with Simon, a leather-worker.

1 Entretanto, Saulo, ameaçador e desejoso de destruir todos os discípulos do Senhor, dirigiu-se ao supremo sacerdote, em Jerusalém, pedindo-lhe que lhe fosse passada uma carta credencial dirigida às sinagogas de Damasco, exigindo a cooperação destas na perseguição de quaisquer seguidores do Caminho que Saulo aí encontrasse, tanto homens como mulheres, para que pudesse levá-los acorrentados para Jerusalém.

3 Ao aproximar-se de Damasco no cumprimento desta missão, uma luz brilhante vinda do céu fixou-se, de súbito, sobre ele. Caindo no chão, ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues?

5 Quem és tu, Senhor?, perguntou.Sou Jesus, aquele a quem tu persegues! Levanta-te, vai para a cidade e espera por instruções minhas.

7 Os homens que acompanhavam Saulo ficaram mudos de surpresa, pois ouviam uma voz mas não viam ninguém

8 Quando Saulo se levantou, verificou que deixara de ver. Tiveram de o levar pela mão até Damasco, onde ficou três dias sem comer nem beber.

10 Ora, havia em Damasco um discípulo chamado Ananias, a quem o Senhor falou numa visão, chamando-o: Ananias!Aqui estou, Senhor!, respondeu.

11 O Senhor disse: Vai à rua Direita, procura em casa de Judas um homem chamado Saulo de Tarso. Neste momento está ele a orar, pois mostrei-lhe em visão alguém chamado Ananias que deverá procurá-lo e que porá as mãos sobre ele para que torne a ver!

13 Mas, Senhor, exclamou Ananias, contaram-me coisas terríveis que este homem fez aos crentes de Jerusalém! E consta que tem mandatos de prisão, passados pelos principais dos sacerdotes, autorizando-o a prender, em Damasco, todos os que invocam o teu nome!

15 O Senhor insistiu: Vai, pois Saulo é o meu instrumento escolhido para levar a minha mensagem às nações e até à presença dos reis, bem como ao povo de Israel. E mostrar-lhe-ei quanto ele deverá sofrer por mim.

17 Ananias obedeceu. Na presença de Saulo, pôs as mãos sobre ele e disse-lhe: Irmão Saulo, o Senhor Jesus, que te apareceu no caminho, enviou-me para que sejas cheio do Espírito Santo e tornes a ver.

18 Imediatamente, caindo-lhe como que umas escamas dos olhos, Saulo recuperou a vista, e, levantando-se, foi baptizado.

19 Saulo ficou com os crentes de Damasco durante alguns dias,

20 indo logo à sinagoga anunciar as boas novas a respeito de Jesus, afirmando que ele era na verdade o Filho de Deus!

21 E todos quantos o escutavam ficavam pasmados: Não é este o homem que perseguia os seguidores de Jesus em Jerusalém? E consta que veio cá para os prender e levá-los acorrentados aos principais dos sacerdotes!

22 As pregações de Saulo eram cada vez mais fervorosas, e os judeus de Damasco não conseguiam refutar às provas que ele apresentava de como Jesus era o Cristo

23 Uns tempos depois, os judeus resolveram matá-lo.

24 Mas Saulo foi informado dos seus planos e de que vigiavam as portas da cidade dia e noite prontos a tirar-lhe a vida.

25 Assim, durante a noite, alguns dos que se haviam convertido por seu intermédio passaram-no para fora, baixando-o numa cesta pela muralha da cidade.

26 Chegando a Jerusalém, tentou pôr-se em contacto com os crentes, mas todos tinham medo dele, pensando que fosse um impostor. Barnabé conduziu-o junto dos apóstolos e contou-lhes como Saulo vira o Senhor na estrada de Damasco e o que o Senhor lhe dissera, mencionando também as suas poderosas pregações em nome de Jesus, em Damasco.

28 Aceitaram-no então, e a partir daí Saulo andava sempre com os crentes, pregando com coragem em nome do Senhor. Mas alguns judeus de língua grega, com os quais ele discutira, combinaram assassiná-lo. Quando os outros crentes souberam do perigo que corria, levaram-no para Cesareia, enviando-o depois para a sua terra em Tarso.

31 Entretanto, a igreja vivia em paz em toda a Judeia, Galileia e Samaria, crescendo com força e em número. Os crentes aprendiam a caminhar no temor do Senhor e na força do Espírito Santo.

32 Pedro viajava de terra em terra, e foi ver os crentes da cidade de Lida.

33 Aí encontrou um homem chamado Eneias, paralisado e incapaz de sair do leito havia oito anos. Pedro disse-lhe: Eneias, Jesus Cristo dá-te saúde. Levanta-te e faz a tua cama! O homem ficou logo bom, e toda a população de Lida e Sarona voltou-se para o Senhor ao ver Eneias a andar normalmente.

36 Havia na cidade de Jope uma mulher discípula chamada Tabita , uma crente que estava sempre a fazer bem aos outros, especialmente aos pobres. Por esta altura, Tabita adoeceu e morreu. As pessoas suas amigas prepararam-na para o funeral e puseram-na num quarto superior. Ao saberem que Pedro se encontrava ali perto em Lida, mandaram dois homens pedir-lhe que fosse com eles a Jope.

39 Pedro assim fez, e logo que chegou levaram-no ao quarto onde Tabita se encontrava. O compartimento estava cheio de viúvas que choravam e mostravam as túnicas e outra roupa que Tabita lhes fizera.

40 Mas Pedro, pedindo a todos que saíssem do quarto, ajoelhou-se, orou e voltando-se para o corpo disse: Levanta-te, Tabita!, e ela abriu os olhos. Quando viu Pedro, sentou-se.

41 Pedro estendeu-lhe a mão, ajudou-a a pôr-se de pé e, chamando os crentes e as viúvas, apresentou-lhes a ressuscitada.

42 A notícia espalhou-se rapidamente pela cidade, e foram muitos os que creram no Senhor.

43 Pedro ficou ainda durante muito tempo em Jope, vivendo com Simão o curtidor.