Saul Escapes from the Jews

²³After many days, the Jews made plans to kill Saul. ²⁴The Jews were watching the city gates day and night, [waiting for Saul]. They wanted to kill him. But Saul learned about their plan. ²⁵One night some followers that Saul had taught helped him leave the city. The followers put Saul in a basket. They put the basket through a hole in the city wall and lowered him down.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶Then Saul went to Jerusalem. He tried to join the group of followers (believers), but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe that Saul was really a follower [of Jesus]. ²⁷But Barnabas accepted Saul and brought him to the apostles.* Barnabas told the apostles that Saul had seen the Lord (Jesus) on the road [to Damascus]. Barnabas explained to the apostles how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told the apostles that Saul spoke for the Lord (Jesus) without fear to the people in Damascus. ²⁸And so Saul stayed with the followers. He went everywhere in Jerusalem, speaking for the Lord (Jesus) without fear. ²⁹Saul often talked with the Jews that spoke Greek. He had arguments with them. But they were trying to kill him. ³⁰When the brothers (believers) learned about this, they took Saul to the city of Caesarea. From Caesarea they sent Saul to the city of Tarsus. ³¹The church (believers) everywhere in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. With the help of the Holy Spirit,* the group became stronger. The believers showed that they respected the Lord by the way they lived. Because of this, the group of believers grew larger and larger.

Peter in Lydda and Joppa

³²Peter traveled through all the towns [around Jerusalem]. He visited the believers* who lived in Lydda. ³³In Lydda he met a paralyzed (crippled) man named Aeneas. Aeneas had not been able to leave his bed for the past eight years. ³⁴Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Stand up and make your bed! You can do this for yourself now!" Aeneas stood up immediately. ³⁵All the people living in Lydda and on the plain of Sharon saw him. These people turned to (believed in) the Lord [Jesus]. ³⁶In the city of Joppa there was a follower [of Jesus] named Tabitha. (Her Greek name, Dorcas, means "a deer.") She always did good things for people. She always gave money to people that needed it. ³⁷While Peter was in Lydda, Tabitha became sick and died. They washed her body and put it in a room upstairs. ³⁸The followers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda. (Lydda is near Joppa.) So they sent two men to Peter. They begged him, "Hurry, please come quickly!" ³⁹Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows* stood around Peter. They were crying. They showed Peter the coats and other clothes that Dorcas (Tabitha) had made when she was still alive. ⁴⁰Peter sent all the people out of the room. He kneeled and prayed. Then he turned to Tabitha's body and said, "Tabitha, stand up!" She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the believers* and the widows into the room. He showed them Tabitha; she was alive! ⁴²People everywhere in Joppa learned about this. Many of these people believed in the Lord (Jesus). ⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He stayed with a man named Simon who was a leatherworker.*

apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. believers Literally, "holy ones," a name for people that believe in Jesus. widows A widow is a woman whose husband has died. leatherworker Man who made leather from animal skins.