Study Desk

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples^(a) of the Lord. He went to the high priest^(b)

and requested letters^(c) from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,^(d) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

As^(e) he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

"Who are You, Lord?" he said. "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," He replied.

"But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.^(f)

Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.

He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Here I am, Lord!" he said.^(g)

"Get up and go to the street called Straight," the Lord said to him, "to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus^(h) named Saul, since he is praying there.

In a vision^[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight." ⁽ⁱ⁾

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.^(j)

And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name."^(k)

But the Lord said to him, "Go! For this man is My chosen instrument^(l) to take My name to Gentiles,^(m) kings, and the Israelites.⁽ⁿ⁾

I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!" ^(o)

So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."^(p)

At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

And after taking some food, he regained his strength.^(q) Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.

Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "He is the Son of God."^(r)

But all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?"^(s)

But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.

After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,^(t)

but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.^(u)

When he arrived in Jerusalem,^(v) he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.

Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly^(w) in the name of Jesus.^(x)

Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[b] but they attempted to kill him.^(y)

When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.^(z)

So the church^(aa) throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

As Peter was traveling from place to place,^[c] he also came down to the saints^(ab) who lived in Lydda.^(ac)

There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,"^[d] and immediately he got up.^(ad)

So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon^(ae) saw him and turned to the Lord.

In Joppa^(af) there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.^[e] She was always doing good works^(ag) and acts of charity.

In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us."

So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.^(ah)

He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon,^(ai) a leather tanner.^[f]

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.^(a)

He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.^(b)

About three in the afternoon^[a] he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, "Cornelius!"^(c)

Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, "What is it, lord?" The angel told him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.^(d)

Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."^(e)

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.

After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The^(f) next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop^(g) about noon.^[b]

Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state.

He saw heaven opened^(h) and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.

In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.

Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!"

"No, Lord!" Peter said. "For I have never eaten anything common^[c] and ritually unclean!"⁽ⁱ⁾

Again, a second time, a voice said to him, "What God has made clean, you must not call common."^(j)

This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, stood at the gate.

They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, "Three men are here looking for you.^(k)

Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them."^(l)

Then Peter went down to the men and said, "Here I am, the one you're looking for. What is the reason you're here?"

They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you."^(m)

Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.⁽ⁿ⁾

The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

But Peter helped him up and said, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."^(o)

While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there.

Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner.^(p) But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.^(q)

That's why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?"

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon,^[d] I was^[e] praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me^(r)

and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God's sight.

Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner's house by the sea.'^[f]

Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord."

Then Peter began to speak: "Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism,^(s)

but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.

He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.^(t)

You know the events^[g] that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.^(u)

We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.^(v)

God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen,

not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.^(w)

He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.^(x)

All the prophets testify^(y) about Him that through His name^(z) everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins."^(aa)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down^(ab) on all those who heard the message.

The circumcised believers^[h] who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.^(ac)

For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of^[i] God. Then Peter responded,

"Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"^(ad)

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(ae) Then they asked him to stay for a few days.