The Road to Damascus
(Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest Act 8:31Ti 1:13Gal 1:13Act 9:11-211Co 15:9Act 22:3-5Act 26:9-11Act 7:58 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Act 19:23Act 19:9Act 24:14Act 22:4-5Act 24:22Act 18:25Act 9:14Act 26:12
As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 1Co 15:8Act 26:12-13Act 22:6Rev 21:231Ti 6:16Psa 104:2Rev 22:5Act 9:17 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” Zec 2:81Co 12:12Gen 22:11Isa 63:9Rom 11:22Act 26:14-15Jhn 21:15Gen 16:8
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. 1Ti 1:131Sa 3:4-10Isa 45:9Job 40:9-10Job 9:4Act 26:91Co 10:22Act 5:39
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 1 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Act 22:101Ti 1:14-16Act 26:16Act 10:22Act 10:32Act 11:13-14Act 16:29-30Act 24:25-26
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. Act 22:9Act 26:13-14Dan 10:7Jhn 12:29Mat 24:40-41 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. 2 So they led him by the hand into Damascus. Act 22:11Act 9:182Ki 6:17-20Act 13:11Gen 19:11Exo 4:11 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything. Jon 3:6-82Ch 33:12-132Ch 33:18-19Est 4:16Act 9:11-12
Ananias Baptizes Saul
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” Act 10:3Act 22:12Gen 22:1Isa 6:81Sa 3:41Sa 3:8-10Act 10:17-20Exo 3:4
“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Act 9:30Act 11:25Act 21:39Act 22:3Luk 11:9-10Luk 18:7-14Mat 7:7-8Act 11:13 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” Mrk 5:23Act 9:10Act 9:17-18
But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 1Ti 1:13-15Act 8:3Act 22:19-20Ezk 3:14Act 9:11Ki 18:9-141Sa 16:2Act 22:4 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” Act 9:21Act 7:592Ti 2:221Co 1:2Act 22:16Act 9:2-3Rom 10:12-14
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. Gal 1:15-16Eph 3:7-82Ti 4:16-17Rom 11:13Act 26:17-20Act 22:21Jer 1:5Rom 1:5 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” 1Th 3:32Co 6:4Act 21:112Ti 1:12Jhn 15:201Pe 4:142Co 11:23-271Co 4:9-13
So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Act 8:17Act 2:4Act 6:6Act 22:12-141Ti 5:22Act 13:521Pe 1:22-231Co 15:47
At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized, 2Co 3:14Act 22:16Act 2:382Co 4:6Act 13:12-13Act 13:37-38Act 2:41 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. Act 26:201Sa 30:12Gal 1:17Act 11:26Act 27:33-36Ecc 9:71Sa 10:10-12
Saul Preaches at Damascus
Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.” Jhn 20:281Jn 4:14-15Gal 1:23-24Gal 2:20Act 9:22Act 9:27-28Jhn 1:49Jhn 20:31
All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Act 8:3Act 9:13-142Th 1:10Gal 1:13-24Mat 13:54-551Jn 3:1Act 2:12Act 2:6
But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. Act 18:5Isa 40:29Luk 21:15Act 18:27-281Co 1:27Act 28:23Act 6:9-10Php 4:13
The Escape from Damascus
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, Gal 1:17-181Th 2:15-16Act 13:50Act 14:192Co 11:26Act 14:2Act 22:21-23Act 9:16 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 2Co 11:32Act 25:3Act 20:19Act 20:3Act 14:5-6Act 17:10-15Act 23:12-21Act 23:30 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. 3 2Co 11:33Jos 2:151Sa 19:11-12
Saul in Jerusalem
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Act 26:20Gal 1:17-19Act 22:17-20Act 4:23Act 9:19Gal 2:4Mat 10:17-19Mat 24:10 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus. Act 4:36Act 4:29Act 4:13Eph 6:19-201Co 15:81Co 9:6Act 11:22Act 11:25
So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Act 1:211Ki 3:72Sa 5:2Gal 1:18Jhn 10:9Num 27:16-17Psa 121:8 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, 4 but they tried to kill him. Act 6:12Co 11:26Act 11:20Jud 1:9Act 17:17Act 18:19Act 19:8Act 9:20-23 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Act 11:25Act 8:40Act 9:11Gal 1:21Act 17:10Act 17:15Act 9:24-25Mat 10:23
The Healing of Aeneas
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Psa 111:10Jhn 14:16-18Isa 33:6Pro 14:26-27Pro 23:172Co 7:1Act 12:24Act 16:5
As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. Act 9:13Act 8:25Pro 2:8Act 1:8Act 26:10Act 8:14Act 9:41Eph 1:1 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Luk 13:16Act 14:8Act 3:2Act 4:22Jhn 5:5Jhn 9:1Jhn 9:21Mrk 2:3-11 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up, Act 3:12Act 3:6Mat 9:6Act 16:18Act 3:16Act 4:10Mat 8:3Mat 9:28-30 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Act 11:211Ch 5:16Act 9:42Isa 35:21Ch 27:292Co 3:16Psa 22:271Th 1:9-10
The Raising of Tabitha
(John 11:38–44)
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), 5 who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. Tit 2:7Tit 3:82Ch 2:16Act 10:31Heb 13:21Act 10:4-5Ezr 3:7Jas 1:27 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. Act 1:13Act 20:8Act 9:39Jhn 11:3-4Jhn 11:36-37Mrk 14:15 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” Act 9:362Ki 4:28-30Act 11:26Act 9:32
So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 1Th 1:3Eph 4:28Pro 10:7Pro 31:30-311Jn 3:181Th 4:132Co 8:122Sa 1:24
Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Mat 9:25Mrk 5:40-42Luk 8:542Ki 4:32-36Act 7:601Ki 17:19-23Jhn 11:43-44Mrk 9:25 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. Act 6:1Mrk 1:311Ki 17:23Act 20:12Act 3:7Gen 45:26Job 29:13Luk 7:12
This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Act 11:21Act 9:35Jhn 11:45Jhn 12:11Jhn 12:44Act 19:17-18Jhn 11:4 And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. Act 10:6Act 10:32