26
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
27
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
28
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
30
When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
33
There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
35
All those 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); she was always doing good and helping the poor.