22
Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.
23
After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24
but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him;
25
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27
But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28
So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29
He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him.
30
When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31
Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32
Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda.
33
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
34
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" And immediately he got up.
35
And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.
37
At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.
38
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."
39
So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40
Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
41
He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.
42
This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.