The Christians in
Damascus didn't know what to think of him. He began to preach in their city and
became more and more powerful. Some of the Jews decided he was dangerous to them and started looking for a way to kill him, but Paul learned of their plan. His enemies watched the city gate day and night, determined to grab him when he tried to leave the city.
Paul and his friends had other plans, and God wanted Paul to survive to preach in other cities. This was their plan: They got a large basket, big enough to hold a man. They tied ropes onto the basket to lower it to the ground. When it was dark, Paul got into the basket and his friends lowered him down through an opening in the wall. He didn't use the city gates at all! His enemies' plan was foiled and Paul left the city in safety.
He went from Damascus to Jerusalem, but the Christians there feared him also. Barnabas, good Barnabas, stood up for him and told the Christians that Paul really was changed. He was accepted by them and preached, but it became dangerous there also when the Jews from Greece tried to kill him. His friends took him to Caesarea (ses uh REE uh) and then sent him off to Tarsus, his hometown.
Paul had some good
friends. Friends help one another. You can be such a helpful friend. Your
friend's life is probably not in danger, but he or she may need to be
encouraged. Friends may need to know that you will be there when others
ridicule them or tell lies about them. Be ready to speak a good word and stand
up for your friends. Be a loyal friend.
Acts 9:20-25New International Version
(NIV)
20 At once he began to preach in the
synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the
man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And
hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living
in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a
conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close
watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket
through an opening in the wall.
Acts 9New International Version (NIV)
Saul’s Conversion
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous
threats against the Lord’s
disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if
he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners
to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light
from heaven flashed around
him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do
you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told
what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless;
they heard the sound but
did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink
anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The
Lord called to him in a
vision, “
Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and
place his hands on him to
restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports
about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief
priests to arrest
all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrumentto proclaim my
name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how
much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing
his hands onSaul, he said,
“Brother Saul, 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.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s
eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and
'after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to
preach in
the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were'
astonished and asked,
“Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among '
those who call on this
name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners
to the chief priests?”22 Yet Saul grew more and
more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving
that Jesus is
the
Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy
among the Jews to kill
]him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates
in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in
a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all
afraid of
him, not believing that
he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and
brought
him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had
seen the Lord and
that
the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in
the
name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in
Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believerslearned of this, they took him down
to Caesarea and sent
him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and
was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it
increased in numbers.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit
the Lord’s peoplewho lived in
Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed
and had been
bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got
up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharonsaw him and
turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name
is Dorcas)
; she was
always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and
died,
and her body was washed
and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near
Joppa; so
when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to
him and
urged
him, “Please come at
once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken
upstairs to the room.
All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and
other
clothing
that Dorcas had made
while she was still with them.
0 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.
Turning toward the dead
woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”She opened her eyes,
and
seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.
Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to
them alive. 42 This became known all over
Joppa, and many
people
believed
in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner
named Simon.
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The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. Second Samuel 22:2 NIV
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