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.

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.