15. But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
16. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17. So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight and got up and was baptized,
19. and after taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus several days.
20. And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “This one is the Son of God!”
21. And all who heard him were amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem on those who call upon this name, and had come here for this reason, that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?”
22. But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this one is the Christ.
23. And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted to do away with him.
24. But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him.
25. But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall by lowering him in a basket.
26. And when he arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28. And he was going in and going out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29. And he was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to do away with him.
30. And when the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31. Then the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened. And living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing in numbers.
32. Now it happened that as Peter was traveling through all the places, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33. And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who was paralyzed, who had been lying on a mat for eight years.