26
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn't believe he was really a disciple.
27
Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28
After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord.
29
He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him.
30
When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers.
Peter heals and raises the dead
32 As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God's holy people in Lydda.
33
There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
34
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed." At once he got up.
35
Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need.