1Enquanto isso, Saulo ainda respirava ameaças de morte contra os discípulos do Senhor. Dirigindo-se ao sumo sacerdote,2pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damasco, de maneira que, caso encontrasse ali homens ou mulheres que pertencessem ao Caminho, pudesse levá-los presos para Jerusalém.3Em sua viagem, quando se aproximava de Damasco, de repente brilhou ao seu redor uma luz vinda do céu.4Ele caiu por terra e ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: “Saulo, Saulo, por que você me persegue?”5Saulo perguntou: “Quem és tu, Senhor?” Ele respondeu: “Eu sou Jesus, a quem você persegue.6Levante-se, entre na cidade; alguém dirá o que você deve fazer”.7Os homens que viajavam com Saulo pararam emudecidos; ouviam a voz, mas não viam ninguém.8Saulo levantou-se do chão e, abrindo os olhos, não conseguia ver nada. E os homens o levaram pela mão até Damasco.9Por três dias ele esteve cego, não comeu nem bebeu.10Em Damasco havia um discípulo chamado Ananias. O Senhor o chamou numa visão: “Ananias!” “Eis-me aqui, Senhor”, respondeu ele.11O Senhor lhe disse: “Vá à casa de Judas, na rua chamada Direita, e pergunte por um homem de Tarso chamado Saulo. Ele está orando;12numa visão viu um homem chamado Ananias chegar e impor-lhe as mãos para que voltasse a ver”.13Respondeu Ananias: “Senhor, tenho ouvido muita coisa a respeito desse homem e de todo o mal que ele tem feito aos teus santos em Jerusalém.14Ele chegou aqui com autorização dos chefes dos sacerdotes para prender todos os que invocam o teu nome”.15Mas o Senhor disse a Ananias: “Vá! Este homem é meu instrumento escolhido para levar o meu nome perante os gentios e seus reis, e perante o povo de Israel.16Mostrarei a ele quanto deve sofrer pelo meu nome”.17Então Ananias foi, entrou na casa, pôs as mãos sobre Saulo e disse: “Irmão Saulo, o Senhor Jesus, que apareceu no caminho por onde você vinha, enviou-me para que você volte a ver e seja cheio do Espírito Santo”.18Imediatamente, algo como escamas caiu dos olhos de Saulo e ele passou a ver novamente. Levantando-se, foi batizado
Saulo em Damasco e em Jerusalém
19e, depois de comer, recuperou as forças. Saulo passou vários dias com os discípulos em Damasco.20Logo começou a pregar nas sinagogas que Jesus é o Filho de Deus.21Todos os que o ouviam ficavam perplexos e perguntavam: “Não é ele o homem que procurava destruir em Jerusalém aqueles que invocam este nome? E não veio para cá justamente para levá-los presos aos chefes dos sacerdotes?”22Todavia, Saulo se fortalecia cada vez mais e confundia os judeus que viviam em Damasco, demonstrando que Jesus é o Cristo.23Decorridos muitos dias, os judeus decidiram de comum acordo matá-lo,24mas Saulo ficou sabendo do plano deles. Dia e noite eles vigiavam as portas da cidade a fim de matá-lo.25Mas os seus discípulos o levaram de noite e o fizeram descer num cesto, através de uma abertura na muralha.26Quando chegou a Jerusalém, tentou reunir-se aos discípulos, mas todos estavam com medo dele, não acreditando que fosse realmente um discípulo.27Então Barnabé o levou aos apóstolos e lhes contou como, no caminho, Saulo vira o Senhor, que lhe falara, e como em Damasco ele havia pregado corajosamente em nome de Jesus.28Assim, Saulo ficou com eles e andava com liberdade em Jerusalém, pregando corajosamente em nome do Senhor.29Falava e discutia com os judeus de fala grega, mas estes tentavam matá-lo.30Sabendo disso, os irmãos o levaram para Cesareia e o enviaram para Tarso.31A igreja passava por um período de paz em toda a Judeia, Galileia e Samaria. Ela se edificava e, encorajada pelo Espírito Santo, crescia em número, vivendo no temor do Senhor.
Eneias e Dorcas
32Viajando por toda parte, Pedro foi visitar os santos que viviam em Lida.33Ali encontrou um paralítico chamado Eneias, que estava acamado fazia oito anos.34Disse-lhe Pedro: “Eneias, Jesus Cristo vai curá-lo! Levante-se e arrume a sua cama”. Ele se levantou imediatamente.35Todos os que viviam em Lida e Sarona o viram e se converteram ao Senhor.36Em Jope havia uma discípula chamada Tabita, que em grego é Dorcas[1], que se dedicava a praticar boas obras e dar esmolas.37Naqueles dias ela ficou doente e morreu, e seu corpo foi lavado e colocado num quarto do andar superior.38Lida ficava perto de Jope, e, quando os discípulos ouviram falar que Pedro estava em Lida, mandaram-lhe dois homens dizer-lhe: “Não se demore em vir até nós”.39Pedro foi com eles e, quando chegou, foi levado para o quarto do andar superior. Todas as viúvas o rodearam, chorando e mostrando-lhe os vestidos e outras roupas que Dorcas tinha feito quando ainda estava com elas.40Pedro mandou que todos saíssem do quarto; depois, ajoelhou-se e orou. Voltando-se para a mulher morta, disse: “Tabita, levante-se”. Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo Pedro, sentou-se.41Tomando-a pela mão, ajudou-a a pôr-se em pé. Então, chamando os santos e as viúvas, apresentou-a viva.42Este fato se tornou conhecido em toda a cidade de Jope, e muitos creram no Senhor.43Pedro ficou em Jope durante algum tempo, com um curtidor de couro chamado Simão.
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (Sl 27:12; At 8:3; At 9:13; At 9:21; At 22:5; At 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. (Is 30:21; Is 35:8; Am 8:14; Lc 12:11; Lc 21:12; At 16:17; At 18:25; At 19:9; At 19:23; At 22:4; At 22:19; At 24:14; At 24:22)3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. (At 22:6; At 26:12; 1 Co 15:8)4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Is 63:9; Zc 2:8)5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (At 9:4)6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Ez 3:22; At 9:16; 1 Co 9:16; Gl 1:1)7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. (Dn 10:7; Jo 12:29; At 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. (At 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; Is 6:8; At 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, (At 21:39; At 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.” (Mc 5:23; At 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. (At 9:1; Rm 15:25; Rm 15:31; 1 Ts 3:13; 2 Ts 1:10)14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (At 7:59; At 9:21; At 22:16; Rm 10:13; 1 Co 1:2; 2 Tm 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. (At 13:2; At 25:22; At 26:1; At 26:32; Rm 1:1; Rm 1:5; Rm 11:13; Rm 15:16; Gl 1:15; Gl 1:16; Gl 2:2; Gl 2:7; Ef 3:7; 1 Tm 2:7; 2 Tm 4:16; 2 Tm 4:17)16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (At 5:41; At 9:6; At 14:22; At 20:23; At 21:4; At 21:11; 2 Co 6:4; 2 Co 11:23; 1 Ts 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.” (At 2:4; At 9:12; At 22:12)18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; (At 22:13; At 22:16)
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. (At 9:9; At 26:20)20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (At 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?” (At 9:13; Gl 1:13; Gl 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. (At 9:20; At 18:28; 1 Tm 1:12)
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23When many days had passed, the Jews[1] plotted to kill him, (Gl 1:17)24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, (At 20:3; At 20:19; At 23:12; At 23:30; At 25:3; 2 Co 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. (Js 2:15; 1 Sm 19:12; 2 Co 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. (At 22:17; At 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. (At 4:29; At 4:36; At 9:3; At 9:19; At 9:22; Gl 1:18)28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. (At 1:21)29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[3] But they were seeking to kill him. (At 6:1; At 22:18)30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. (Jo 21:23; At 11:25; Gl 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. (Ne 5:9; At 8:1; At 9:35; At 9:42; At 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. (At 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. (At 3:6)35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. (1 Cr 5:16; 1 Cr 27:29; Ct 2:1; At 9:31; At 9:42; At 11:21; 2 Co 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. (Js 19:46; 1 Tm 2:10)37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. (At 1:13; At 9:39; At 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.” (Nm 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. (At 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; Mc 5:41; Jo 11:43; At 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. (Jo 11:45; Jo 12:11)43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. (At 10:6)