Acts 9:25-42

²⁵So during the night his followers took him and lowered him down in a basket from an opening in the city wall.

²⁶When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they were not convinced he was really a disciple.

²⁷However, Barnabas took him to meet the apostles, and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also explained how in Damascus Saul had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem,

²⁹speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him.

³⁰When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.

³¹During this time the whole church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was left in peace. The church grew strong and increased rapidly in numbers as the believers lived reverently for the Lord, encouraged by the Holy Spirit.

³²Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda.

³³There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.

³⁴Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up.

³⁵Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in the Lord.

³⁶In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek). She was always doing good and helping the poor.

³⁷However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room.

³⁸Lydda was near Joppa, so the disciples in Joppa, hearing that Peter was in Lydda, sent two men to him with the message, “Please come to us right away.”

³⁹So Peter got ready and left with them. When he arrived they took him upstairs. All the widows were there crying, and they showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

⁴⁰Peter told them all to leave, kneeled down, and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

⁴¹He took her by the hand and lifted her up. He called in the believers and the widows, and presented her to them alive.

⁴²The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.