This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ.
It is said in the prophet Isaiah –
‘I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness:
“Prepare the road for the Lord,
make a straight path for him.”’
John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism on repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
John wore clothes made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap around his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; and he proclaimed – “After me is coming someone more powerful than I am, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Now about that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down to him like a dove, and from the heavens came a voice – “You are my dearly loved son; you bring me great joy.”
Immediately afterward the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness; and he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels helped him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God – “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the good news.”
As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come and follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will teach you to fish for people.” They left their nets at once, and followed him.
Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Jesus called them at once, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the crew, and went after him.
They walked to Capernaum. On the next Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the teachers of the Law. Now there was in their synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out, “What do you want with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked the spirit, “Be silent! Come out from him.” The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud cry came out from him. They were all so amazed that they kept asking each other, “What is this? What is this, a new kind of teaching? He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!” His fame spread at once in all directions, through the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they had left the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying ill with a fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. Jesus went up to her and, grasping her hand, raised her up; the fever left her, and she began to take care of them.
In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons; and the whole city was gathered around the door. Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.
In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and went out to a lonely spot, where he began to pray. But Simon and his companions went out searching for him; and, when they found him, they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for you!” But Jesus said to them, “Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns nearby so that I can make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came.” And he went about making his proclamation in their synagogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons.
One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help. “If only you are willing,” he said, “you are able to make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying as he did so, “I am willing; become clean.” Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean; and then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.” The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and to spread the story so widely, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction. (OEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
You shall observe to do all the commandments which I command you today, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers. You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that he might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Yahweh’s mouth. Your clothing didn’t grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years. You shall consider in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so Yahweh your God disciplines you. You shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills; a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Yahweh your God for the good land which he has given you.
Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God, in not keeping his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you today; lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who poured water for you out of the rock of flint; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn’t know, that he might humble you, and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish. As the nations that Yahweh makes to perish before you, so you shall perish, because you wouldn’t listen to Yahweh your God’s voice. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain. Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” (Psalm 8:6 )But when he says, “All things are put in subjection ”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (Isaiah 22:13 ) Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 )The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s [NU, TR read “we will” instead of “let’s” ]also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers, [The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” ]that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
Behold, [“Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. ]I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (Isaiah 25:8 )
“Death, where is your sting?
Hades, [or, Hell ]where is your victory?” (See Hosea 13:14 )
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, [“Christ” means “Anointed One”. ]which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel [or, messenger (here and wherever angel is mentioned) ]to his servant, John, who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near.
John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood — and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests (Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6 )to his God and Father — to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, [“Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. ]he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, [TR adds “the Beginning and the End” ]” says the Lord God, [TR omits “God” ]“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet saying, [TR adds “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.” ]“What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: [TR adds “which are in Asia” ]to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, (Daniel 7:13 )clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades. [or, Hell ] Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels [or, messengers (here and wherever angels are mentioned) ]of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
“My spirit is consumed.
My days are extinct
and the grave is ready for me.
Surely there are mockers with me.
My eye dwells on their provocation.
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself.
Who is there who will strike hands with me?
For you have hidden their heart from understanding,
therefore you will not exalt them.
He who denounces his friends for plunder,
even the eyes of his children will fail.
“But he has made me a byword of the people.
They spit in my face.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow.
All my members are as a shadow.
Upright men will be astonished at this.
The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
Yet the righteous will hold to his way.
He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
But as for you all, come back.
I will not find a wise man among you.
My days are past.
My plans are broken off,
as are the thoughts of my heart.
They change the night into day,
saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
If I look for Sheol [Sheol is the place of the dead. ]as my house,
if I have spread my couch in the darkness,
if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father ,’
and to the worm, ‘My mother ,’ and ‘My sister ,’
where then is my hope?
As for my hope, who will see it?
Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, [Sheol is the place of the dead. ]
or descend together into the dust?”
(WEB)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
O God whom I praise, keep not silence;
for their wicked mouths they have opened against me,
they speak to me with tongues that are false,
they beset me with words of hatred,
and fight without cause against me.
My love they requite with hostility,
while for them I lift up my prayer.
Evil for good they reward me,
and hatred for my love.
“Set over him one who is godless,” they say,
“an opponent at his right hand.
From his trial let him come forth guilty,
may his prayer be counted as sin.
Grant that his days may be few,
that his office be seized by another.
Grant that his children be fatherless,
and that his wife be a widow.
Up and down may his children go begging,
expelled from their desolate home.
May all that he owns be seized by the creditor
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.
“May none extend to him kindness,
or pity his fatherless children.
His descendants be doomed to destruction!
Blotted out be his name in one generation!
May his father’s guilt be remembered,
and his mother’s sin not blotted out:
on record always before the Lᴏʀᴅ,
and his memory root from the earth;
for he gave no thought to show kindness,
but pursued the poor and the needy,
drove the downhearted to death.
“May the curses he loved light upon him,
may the blessings he loathed be afar.
Like a garment he clothed him with curses;
may they pierce to his inwards like water,
and cling to his bones like oil.
Let them be like the robe he wraps round him,
like the belt he wears every day.”
Be this the reward of my adversaries,
of those who speak evil against me.
But you, Lᴏʀᴅ my Gᴏᴅ,
be true to your name,
deal kindly with me;
in your gracious kindness
save me.
For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
I am gone like a lengthening shadow,
I am shaken off like a locust.
My knees totter from fasting,
my flesh is shrivelled and spare.
They heap insults upon me:
when they see me, they shake their head.
Help me, O Lᴏʀᴅ my God,
and save me in your kindness.
Teach them that this is your hand,
and your own doing, O Lᴏʀᴅ.
Let them curse, if only you bless.
Put my assailants to shame,
and make your servant glad.
My opponents be clothed with dishonor,
and wrapped in a robe of shame.
I give thanks to you, Lᴏʀᴅ, with loud voice,
I give praise in the midst of the throng;
for he stands by the poor, at his right hand,
to save them from those who condemn them.
(OEB)
This content pulled from bible.org.
Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold;likewise the Lord tests hearts. One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. The one who mocks the poor has insulted his Creator;whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly,and the glory of children is their parents. Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. The one who forgives an offense seeks love,but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning personthan a hundred blows on a fool. An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubsthan to encounter a fool in his folly. As for the one who repays evil for good,evil will not leave his house. Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; abandon strife before it breaks out! The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent—both of them are an abomination to the Lord. What’s the point of a fool having money in handto buy wisdom when his head is empty? A friend loves at all times,and a relative is born to help in adversity. The one who lacks sense strikes hands in pledge and puts up financial security for his neighbor. The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,and the father of a fool has no joy. A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person,but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. A foolish child is a grief to his fatherand bitterness to the mother who bore him. It is terrible to punish a righteous person,and to flog honorable men is wrong. The truly wise person restrains his words,and the one who stays calm is discerning. Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise,and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
(NET)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and Yahweh’s glory filled the house. The priests could not enter into Yahweh’s house, because Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house. All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and Yahweh’s glory was on the house. They bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying,
“For he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever!”
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before Yahweh. King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated God’s house. The priests stood, according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to Yahweh, when David praised by their ministry, saying “For his loving kindness endures forever.” The priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel stood.
Moreover Solomon made the middle of the court that was before Yahweh’s house holy; for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the fat.
So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
On the eighth day, they held a solemn assembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
Thus Solomon finished Yahweh’s house and the king’s house; and he successfully completed all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in Yahweh’s house and in his own house.
Then Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of sacrifice.
“If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.
“As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.’
But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. This house, which is so high, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?’ They shall answer, ‘Because they abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and took other gods, worshiped them, and served them. Therefore he has brought all this evil on them.’” (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them, even all these words, then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there ;’ but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”
So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah. But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah — the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.
Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, “Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah. Tell them, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them. He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death will be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword. I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt. He will burn them, and carry them away captive. He will array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he will go out from there in peace. He will also break the pillars of Beth Shemesh that is in the land of Egypt; and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt with fire.’” (WEB)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Way, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” he asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice answered; “Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one. When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus; and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said, “Ananias.”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered. “Go at once,” said the Lord, “to the Straight Street, and ask at Judas’s house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying, and he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight.”
“Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard from many people about this man – how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your people there. And, here, too, he holds authority from the chief priests to put in chains all those who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel. I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my name.”
So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said, “Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord – by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here – so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return.
Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus, and at once began in the synagogues to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed.
“Is not this,” they asked, “the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the chief priests?” Saul’s influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jewish people who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ.
After some time some of them laid a plot to kill Saul, but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him; but his disciples let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought him to the apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fearlessly in the name of Jesus. After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close contact with the apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the name of the Lord, talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him. But, when the followers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
And so it came about that the church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by respect for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Peter, while traveling from place to place throughout the country, went down to visit the people of Christ living at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years with paralysis. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed.” Aeneas got up at once; and all the inhabitants of Lydda and of the Plain of Sharon saw him, and came over to the Lord’s side.
At Joppa there lived a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which is in Greek ‘Dorcas’ – a Gazelle. Her life was spent in doing kind and charitable actions. Just at that time she was taken ill, and died; and they had washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs room. Joppa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he come to them without delay. Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came around him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them. But Peter sent everybody out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha! Stand up.”
She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. Giving her his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ’s people, presented her to them alive. This became known all through Joppa, and numbers of people came to believe in the Lord. And Peter stayed some days at Joppa with a tanner named Simon. (OEB)