1 Samal ajal paiskas Saulus ikka veel tapmisähvardusi Issanda jüngrite vastu. Ta läks ülempreestri juurde 2 ja küsis temalt kirju sünagoogide jaoks Damaskuses, et kui ta leiab sealt usuteel käijaid, olgu mehi või naisi, võiks ta need inimesed vangidena Jeruusalemma tuua. 3 Kui ta teel olles Damaskusele lähenes, sähvatas äkitselt taevast tema ümber valgus. 4 Ta kukkus maha ja kuulis häält talle ütlemas: „Saul, Saul, miks sa mind taga kiusad?"

5 „Kes sa oled, Issand?" küsis Saulus.

„Mina olen Jeesus, keda sa taga kiusad. Sul on raske astla vastu takka üles lüüa," vastas Issand. 6 Värisedes ja hämmastuses küsis ta: „Issand, mida ma pean tegema?" Ja Issand ütles: „Tõuse nüüd üles ja mine linna, seal öeldakse sulle, mis sul tuleb teha!"

7 Aga mehed, kes koos Saulusega reisisid, seisid ehmunult; nad kuulsid küll häält, kuid ei näinud kedagi. 8 Aga Saulus tõusis maast üles, ja kui ta silmad avas, ei näinud ta enam. Nõnda ta talutati kättpidi Damaskusesse. 9 Kolm päeva oli ta pime, ei söönud ega joonud.

10 Ent Damaskuses oli jünger nimega Ananias. Issand kutsus teda nägemuses: „Ananias!"

„Issand, vaata, siin ma olen!" vastas Ananias.

11 Issand ütles talle: „Mine Sirgel tänaval Juudase majja ja küsi Tarsosest pärit Sauluse järele, sest ta on seal palvetamas. 12 Ta on näinud nägemuses, kuidas mees nimega Ananias tuli tema juurde ja pani käed tema peale, et ta nägemise tagasi saaks!"

13 „Issand," vastas Ananias, „ma olen paljudelt kuulnud, kui palju kurja see mees on teinud sinu pühadele Jeruusalemmas. 14 Ja nüüd on ta siin ülempreestri volitusel aheldamas kõiki, kes sinu nime appi hüüavad!"

15 Aga Issand vastas Ananiasele: „Mine! See mees on minu valitud tööriist, et kanda minu nimi rahvaste ja kuningate ja Iisraeli rahva ette. 16 Sest mina tahan talle näidata, kui palju ta peab kannatama minu nime pärast!"

17 Siis Ananias läks sinna majja. Ja kui ta oma käed oli Sauluse peale pannud, ütles ta: „Vend Saul, Issand Jeesus on mind läkitanud, tema, kes sulle ilmus tee peal, et sa jälle näeksid ja saaksid täis Püha Vaimu." 18 Otsekohe langes Sauluse silmadelt justkui soomuseid ja ta nägi jälle. Ta tõusis püsti ja laskis ennast ristida, 19 ja pärast kehakinnitust tema jõud taastus.

Saulus veetis mitu päeva Damaskuses jüngritega.

20 Ja otsekohe hakkas ta sünagoogides kuulutama Kristusest, et tema on Jumala Poeg. 21 Aga kõik, kes teda kuulsid, ehmusid ning küsisid: „Eks tema ole seesama, kes Jeruusalemmas hävitas selle nime appihüüdjaid? Ja kes on siia tulnud selleks, et neid viia kinniseotuna ülempreestrite juurde?" 22 Ometi muutus Saulus üha võimsamaks ja ajas segadusse Damaskuses elavad juudid ning tõestas, et Jeesus on Messias.

23 Ja kui hulk päevi oli möödunud, kavatsesid juudid ta tappa. 24 Aga Saulus sai nende plaanist teada. Nad panid päevaks ja ööks isegi linnaväravate juurde valvurid, et teda tappa. 25 Kuid ühel ööl lasksid jüngrid ta korvi sees müüriava kaudu alla.

26 Kui ta jõudis Jeruusalemma, püüdis Saulus jüngritega liituda, kuid kõik kartsid teda ega uskunud, et ta on jünger. 27 Aga Barnabas võttis Sauluse, viis ta ja apostlite juurde ja rääkis neile, kuidas Saulus teel olles oli kohanud Issandat ja temaga kõnelnud ja kuidas ta oli Damaskuses kartmatult Jeesuse nimel kuulutanud. 28 Nii jäi Saulus nende juurde ja liikus vabalt Jeruusalemmas, kuulutades julgelt Issanda Jeesuse nimel. 29 Ta rääkis ja vaidles ka Kreeka päritolu juutidega, aga need püüdsid teda tappa. 30 Ent kui usklikud sellest teada said, viisid nad ta alla Kaisareasse ja läkitasid Tarsosesse.

31 Nüüd oli kogudusel rahu kogu Juudamaal, Galileas ja Samaarias, see kasvas ja edenes Issanda kartuses ning Püha Vaimu julgustusel.

32 Peetrus käis läbi kogu maa ja läks ka Lüddas elavate pühade juurde. 33 Seal leidis ta mehe nimega Aineas, kes oli olnud halvatuna voodis maas kaheksa aastat. 34 „Aineas," ütles Peetrus talle, „Jeesus Kristus teeb su terveks: tõuse ja sea oma ase korda!" Ja Aineas tõusis sedamaid. 35 Kõik Lüdda ja Saaroni elanikud nägid teda ja pöördusid Issanda poole.

36 Aga Joppes oli naisjünger nimega Tabiita (mis tõlkes tähendab Dorkas*9:36 Nii aramea k tabiita kui kreeka k dorkas tähendavad gaselli.); ta tegi palju head ja aitas vaeseid. 37 Ja neil päevil sündis, et ta jäi haigeks ja suri. Tema ihu pesti ja pandi ülemisse tuppa. 38 Aga Lüdda oli Joppe lähedal. Kui jüngrid kuulsid, et Peetrus on seal, läkitasid nad kaks meest tema juurde palvega: „Tule otsekohe!"

39 Peetrus tõusis ja läks nendega. Joppesse jõudes juhatati ta ülemisse tuppa. Koguduse lesknaised tulid tema juurde, nutsid ja näitasid talle alussärke ja ülerõivaid, mis Dorkas nendega olles oli teinud.

40 Aga Peetrus saatis nad kõik toast välja, laskus põlvili ja palvetas. Ta pöördus surnukeha poole ja ütles: „Tabiita, tõuse üles!" Tema avas oma silmad ja tõusis Peetrust nähes istuma. 41 Peetrus võttis tal käest ja aitas ta jalule. Ta kutsus pühad ja lesknaised ning näitas teda neile elavana. 42 See sai teatavaks kogu Joppes ja paljud uskusid Issandasse. 43 Ja Peetrus jäi mõneks ajaks Joppesse nahkur Siimoni juurde.

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.