1Saul stále ještě chrlil smrtelné výhrůžky proti Pánovým učedníkům.[1] Šel za veleknězem2a vyžádal si od něj listy pro synagogy v Damašku, aby tam mohl vyhledat přívržence té Cesty – jak muže, tak ženy – a přivést je v poutech do Jeruzaléma.3Když už se cestou blížil k Damašku, náhle ho obklopilo světlo z nebe.4Padl na zem a uslyšel hlas: „Saule, Saule, proč mě pronásleduješ?“5Zeptal se: „Kdo jsi, Pane?“ Ten odpověděl: „Já jsem Ježíš, kterého ty pronásleduješ.6Vstaň a jdi do města; tam se dozvíš, co máš dělat.“7Muži v Saulově doprovodu zůstali stát bez hlesu; slyšeli totiž hlas, ale nikoho neviděli.8Když se Saul zvedl ze země, otevřel oči, ale nic neviděl. Museli ho do Damašku odvést za ruku.9Po tři dny neviděl, nejedl ani nepil.10V Damašku žil jeden učedník jménem Ananiáš. Pán ho ve vidění oslovil: „Ananiáši!“ Odpověděl: „Zde jsem, Pane.“11Pán mu řekl: „Vstaň a jdi do ulice zvané Přímá. V Judově domě najdeš Saula z Tarsu – hle, právě se modlí12a ve vidění spatřil muže jménem Ananiáš, jak jde k němu a vkládá na něj ruku, aby prohlédl.“13Ananiáš namítl: „Pane, slyšel jsem od mnoha lidí, kolik zla ten muž napáchal tvým svatým v Jeruzalémě!14A teď má i zde od vrchních kněží pověření, aby spoutal všechny, kdo vzývají tvé jméno!“15Pán mu však řekl: „Jdi, neboť je to má vyvolená nádoba – bude přinášet mé jméno národům, králům i synům Izraele16a já mu ukážu, kolik musí vytrpět pro mé jméno.“17Ananiáš tedy šel do určeného domu. Vešel dovnitř, vložil na něj ruce a řekl: „Bratře Saule, Pán Ježíš, který se ti ukázal na cestě, po níž jsi šel, mě poslal, abys prohlédl a byl naplněn Duchem svatým.“18Saul náhle prohlédl, jako by mu z očí spadly šupiny. Potom vstal a dal se pokřtít.
Saul popouzí Židy
19Přijal pokrm a posilnil se. Saul pak strávil několik dní s damašskými učedníky20a hned začal v synagogách kázat, že Ježíš je Boží Syn.21Všichni, kdo ho slyšeli, žasli a říkali: „Vždyť to je ten, který v Jeruzalémě hubil vyznavače toho jména! Copak sem nepřišel, aby je v poutech odvedl k vrchním kněžím?“22Saul ale kázal stále mocněji a svými důkazy, že Ježíš je Mesiáš, popouzel damašské Židy.23Když už to trvalo dost dlouho, Židé se dohodli, že ho zabijí.24Saul se ale o jejich úkladech dozvěděl. Brány byly hlídány dnem i nocí, protože ho chtěli zabít,25a tak ho učedníci v noci vzali a spustili ho v koši přes hradbu.26Saul se tedy vrátil do Jeruzaléma. Pokoušel se připojit k učedníkům, ale všichni se ho báli. Nevěřili totiž, že je učedník.27Barnabáš se ho však ujal. Přivedl ho k apoštolům a vyprávěl jim, jak Saul uviděl na cestě Pána a mluvil s ním a také jak v Damašku směle mluvil v Ježíšově jménu.28A tak s nimi zůstal v Jeruzalémě.29Hovořil a přel se také s pořečtěnými Židy a ti mu začali ukládat o život.30Když se to dozvěděli bratři, odvedli ho do Cesareje a poslali do Tarsu.31Církve po celém Judsku, Galileji i Samaří pak zakoušely klid a sílily; žily v Hospodinově bázni a povzbuzovány Duchem svatým se rozrůstaly.
Petrova apoštolská cesta
32Petr obcházel všechny církve a cestou přišel také ke svatým v Lyddě.33Tam nalezl člověka jménem Eneáš, který byl ochrnutý a už osm let byl upoután na lůžko.34Petr mu řekl: „Eneáši, Ježíš Kristus tě uzdravuje. Vstaň a ustel si!“ On hned vstal35a všichni obyvatelé Lyddy a Šáronu, kteří ho viděli, se obrátili k Pánu.36V Joppě pak žila jedna učednice jménem Tabita (což je v překladu Dorkas),[2] která oplývala dobrými skutky a almužnami.37V těch dnech však onemocněla a zemřela. Omyli ji a položili do horní místnosti.38Lydda je blízko Joppy, a když se učedníci doslechli, že Petr je v Lyddě, poslali k němu dva muže s prosbou, aby k nim bez meškání přišel.39Petr vstal a šel s nimi. Když přišel, zavedli ho do horní místnosti, kde ho s pláčem obstoupily všechny vdovy a ukazovaly košile a pláště, které jim Dorkas dělala, dokud byla s nimi.40Petr poslal všechny ven, poklekl a modlil se. Potom se obrátil k jejímu tělu a řekl: „Tabito, vstaň!“[3] Otevřela oči, a když uviděla Petra, posadila se.41On jí podal ruku a pomohl jí vstát. Potom zavolal svaté i vdovy a ukázal jim ji živou.42Rozneslo se to po celé Joppě a mnozí uvěřili v Pána.43Petr pak v Joppě bydlel delší čas u jistého Šimona koželuha.
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (Ž 27,12; Sk 8,3; Sk 9,13; Sk 9,21; Sk 22,5; Sk 26,10)2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Iz 30,21; Iz 35,8; Am 8,14; L 12,11; L 21,12; Sk 16,17; Sk 18,25; Sk 19,9; Sk 19,23; Sk 22,4; Sk 22,19; Sk 24,14; Sk 24,22)3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. (Sk 22,6; Sk 26,12; 1K 15,8)4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Iz 63,9; Za 2,8)5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Sk 9,4)6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Ez 3,22; Sk 9,16; 1K 9,16; Ga 1,1)7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. (Da 10,7; J 12,29; Sk 22,9)8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. (Sk 22,11)9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” (Gn 22,1; Iz 6,8; Sk 22,12)11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, (Sk 21,39; Sk 22,3)12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” (Mk 5,23; Sk 9,17)13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. (Sk 9,1; Ř 15,25; Ř 15,31; 1Te 3,13; 2Te 1,10)14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (Sk 7,59; Sk 9,21; Sk 22,16; Ř 10,13; 1K 1,2; 2Tm 2,22)15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (Sk 13,2; Sk 25,22; Sk 26,1; Sk 26,32; Ř 1,1; Ř 1,5; Ř 11,13; Ř 15,16; Ga 1,15; Ga 1,16; Ga 2,2; Ga 2,7; Ef 3,7; 1Tm 2,7; 2Tm 4,16; 2Tm 4,17)16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Sk 5,41; Sk 9,6; Sk 14,22; Sk 20,23; Sk 21,4; Sk 21,11; 2K 6,4; 2K 11,23; 1Te 3,3)17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Sk 2,4; Sk 9,12; Sk 22,12)18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; (Sk 22,13; Sk 22,16)
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. (Sk 9,9; Sk 26,20)20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Sk 9,22)21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Sk 9,13; Ga 1,13; Ga 1,23)22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Sk 9,20; Sk 18,28; 1Tm 1,12)
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23When many days had passed, the Jews[1] plotted to kill him, (Ga 1,17)24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, (Sk 20,3; Sk 20,19; Sk 23,12; Sk 23,30; Sk 25,3; 2K 11,32)25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,[2] lowering him in a basket. (Jz 2,15; 1S 19,12; 2K 11,33)
Saul in Jerusalem
26And 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. (Sk 22,17; Sk 26,20)27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. (Sk 4,29; Sk 4,36; Sk 9,3; Sk 9,19; Sk 9,22; Ga 1,18)28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. (Sk 1,21)29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[3] But they were seeking to kill him. (Sk 6,1; Sk 22,18)30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. (J 21,23; Sk 11,25; Ga 1,21)31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Neh 5,9; Sk 8,1; Sk 9,35; Sk 9,42; Sk 16,5)
The Healing of Aeneas
32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. (Sk 8,25)33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. (Sk 3,6)35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. (1Pa 5,16; 1Pa 27,29; Pís 2,1; Sk 9,31; Sk 9,42; Sk 11,21; 2K 3,16)
Dorcas Restored to Life
36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[4] She was full of good works and acts of charity. (Jz 19,46; 1Tm 2,10)37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. (Sk 1,13; Sk 9,39; Sk 20,8)38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” (Nu 22,16)39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[5] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. (Sk 9,37)40But Peter put them all outside, 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. (Mt 9,25; Mk 5,41; J 11,43; Sk 7,60)41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (J 11,45; J 12,11)43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. (Sk 10,6)