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.
1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus: and suddenly there shone around him a light out of heaven:
4 and he fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom you persecute:
6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Look, I [am here], Lord.
11 And the Lord [said] to him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for look, he prays;
12 and he has seen in a vision 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 of this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem:
14 and 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 a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before Gentiles and kings, and [the] sons of Israel:
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared to you in the way which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20 And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, He is the Son of God.
21 And 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 for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:
24 but their plot became known to Saul. But they were also watching 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 And when he came to Jerusalem, he assayed to stick [close] to the disciples: and 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 in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,
29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spoke and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.
30 And when the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied.
34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you: arise and make your bed. And immediately he arose.
35 And all who dwelt 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 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 fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him, Do not delay to come through to us.
39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he came, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.
43 And it came to pass, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.