1 Saulo, respirando ainda ameaças e morte contra os discípulos do Senhor, dirigiu-se ao sumo sacerdote2 e pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damasco, a fim de que, caso achasse alguns que fossem do Caminho, tanto homens como mulheres, os levasse presos a Jerusalém.3 Caminhando ele, ao aproximar-se de Damasco, subitamente resplandeceu em redor dele uma luz do céu;4 e caindo em terra, ouviu uma voz dizer-lhe: Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues?5 Ele perguntou: Quem és tu, Senhor? Respondeu o Senhor: Eu sou Jesus a quem tu persegues;6 mas levanta-te e entra na cidade, e dir-te-ão o que te é necessário fazer.7 Os homens que viajavam com ele, pararam, emudecidos, ouvindo sim a voz, mas sem ver a ninguém.8 Levantou-se Saulo da terra e, abrindo os olhos, nada viu; e guiando-o pela mão, conduziram-no a Damasco.9 Esteve três dias sem ver, e não comeu nem bebeu.10 Ora havia em Damasco um discípulo chamado Ananias, e disse-lhe o Senhor em visão: Ananias. Respondeu ele: Eis-me aqui Senhor.11 O Senhor ordenou-lhe: Levanta-te e vai à rua que se chama Direita e procura na casa de Judas a um homem de Tarso, chamado Saulo; pois ele está orando,12 e tem visto um homem, por nome Ananias, entrar e impôr-lhe as mãos para recuperar a vista.13 Mas Ananias respondeu: Senhor, eu tenho ouvido a muitos, acerca deste homem, quantos males fez aos teus santos em Jerusalém;14 e aqui tem autoridade dos principais sacerdotes para prender a todos os que invocam o teu nome.15 Mas o Senhor disse-lhe: Vai, porque este é para mim um vaso escolhido para levar o meu nome perante os gentios e os reis, bem como perante os filhos de Israel;16 pois eu lhe mostrarei quanto lhe é necessário padecer pelo meu nome.17 Partiu Ananias e entrou na casa e, impondo-lhe as mãos, disse: Saulo, irmão, o Senhor Jesus que te apareceu no caminho por onde vinhas, enviou-me para que recuperes a vista e fiques cheio do Espírito Santo.18 Logo lhe caíram dos olhos umas como escamas, e recuperou a vista. Levantando-se, foi batizado;19 e depois de tomar alimento, ficou fortalecido. Demorou-se alguns dias com os discípulos que estavam em Damasco;20 e logo nas sinagogas proclamava que Jesus era Filho de Deus.21 Pasmavam todos os que escutavam, e diziam: Não é este o que perseguia em Jerusalém aos que invocavam esse nome, e que tinha vindo cá para os levar presos aos principais sacerdotes?22 Porém Saulo muito mais se fortalecia e confundia os judeus que habitavam em Damasco, provando que Jesus era o Cristo.23 Decorridos muitos dias, os judeus deliberaram entre si tirar-lhe a vida;24 porém esta cilada chegou ao conhecimento de Saulo. Guardavam também as portas de dia e de noite para o matar.25 Mas os discípulos tomaram-no de noite e desceram-no pela muralha, baixando-o numa alcofa.26 Tendo chegado a Jerusalém, tentava juntar-se com os discípulos; e todos tinham medo dele, não crendo que ele fosse discípulo.27 Mas Barnabé, tomando-o consigo, levou-o aos apóstolos e contou-lhes como ele vira o Senhor no caminho, e que este lhe falara, e como em Damasco pregara ousadamente em nome de Jesus.28 Estava com eles em Jerusalém, entrando e saindo,29 pregando com coragem em nome do Senhor. Ele falava e disputava com os helenistas; mas eles tratavam de tirar-lhe a vida.30 O que tendo sabido os irmãos, levaram-no até Cesaréia, e enviaram-no a Tarso.31 Assim, pois, tinha paz a igreja por toda a Judéia, Galiléia e Samaria, sendo edificada e caminhando no temor do Senhor, e crescia no conforto do Espírito Santo.32 Passando Pedro por toda a parte, desceu também aos santos que habitam em Lida.33 Achou ali um homem chamado Enéias, que havia oito anos jazia numa cama, porque era paralítico.34 Pedro disse-lhe: Enéias, Jesus Cristo te sara; levanta-te e faze a tua cama. Ele logo se levantou.35 Viram-no todos os que moravam em Lida e Sarona, os quais se converteram ao Senhor.36 Havia em Jope uma discípula, por nome Tabita, que quer dizer, Dorcas; ela estava cheia de boas obras e esmolas que fazia.37 Naqueles dias, adoecendo ela, morreu; e depois de a lavarem, puseram-na no cenáculo.38 Como Lida era perto de Jope, os discípulos, ouvindo que Pedro se achava lá, enviaram-lhe dois homens, e rogaram-lhe: Não te demores em vir ter conosco.39 Pedro levantou-se e foi com eles. Tendo chegado, conduziram-no ao cenáculo; e todas as viúvas cercaram-no, chorando e mostrando-lhe túnicas e capas que Dorcas fazia, enquanto estava com elas.40 Mas Pedro, tendo feito sair a todos, pondo-se de joelhos, orou; e voltando-se para o corpo, disse: Tabita, levanta-te. Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo a Pedro, sentou-se.41 Ele, dando-lhe a mão, levantou-a; e chamando os santos e as viúvas, apresentou-lha viva.42 Isto se tornou conhecido por toda Jope, e muitos creram no Senhor.43 Pedro ficou em Jope por muitos dias em casa de um curtidor chamado Simão.

1 Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest.2 He asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any there who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 As he journeyed to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shined around him.4 He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying: »Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?«5 »Who are you Lord?« He asked. The Lord said: »I am Jesus whom you persecute.6 »Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.«7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.8 Saul got up from the ground. Even though he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand into Damascus.9 He went for three days without sight. He did not eat or drink.10 The disciple Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision: »Ananias.« He replied: »Yes, I am here, Lord.«11 The Lord said to him, »Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for he is praying.12 »He has seen a man named Ananias in a vision. He came in and laid his hand on him that he might receive his sight.«13 Ananias answered: »Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your holy ones at Jerusalem.14 »He has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.«15 The Lord said to him: »Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel.16 »I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.«17 Ananias went his way. He entered the house and put his hands on him and said, »Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you along the road sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.«18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he received sight. He got up and was baptized.19 He ate and was strengthened. Saul spent several days with the disciples at Damascus.20 He preached in the synagogues immediately. He preached Christ the Son of God.21 All who heard him were amazed. They asked: »Is he the one who raised havoc with those who called on this name in Jerusalem? Did he come for that purpose to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?«22 Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.23 After many days the Jews took counsel to kill him.24 Saul learned about their plot against him. They watched the gates day and night to kill him.25 During the night the disciples let him down by the wall in a basket.26 When Saul came to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples. They were afraid of him and did not believe he was a disciple.27 Barnabas led him to the apostles. He declared to 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 He was with them coming in and going out of Jerusalem.29 He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him.30 When the brothers detected this they brought him to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.31 The congregations throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria, were built up. They walked in deep respect for Jehovah and were comforted by the Holy Spirit and continued to grow.32 Peter traveled through all parts. He came to the holy ones at Lydda.33 He found a man named Aeneas who lay in his bed for eight years. He was sick of the palsy.34 Peter said to him: « Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole! Stand up and take your bed.« And he stood up immediately.35 All who lived at Lydda on the Plain of Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.36 A disciple named Tabitha was at Joppa. Her name, when translated means Dorcas. This woman did many good works and gave gifts of mercy.37 She was sick, and died. They washed her body and laid her in an upper chamber.38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him requesting that he come to them quickly.39 Peter went to them right a way. When he arrived they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.40 Peter put them all outside, kneeled down, and prayed. He turned to the body and said: »Tabitha, rise!« She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.41 He gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then he called the holy ones and widows and presented her alive.42 It became known throughout Joppa and many believed in the Lord.43 He waited many days in Jappa with Simon a tanner.