22. But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah.
23. After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24. but their plot became known to Saul. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him,
25. but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26. When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27. Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
28. He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
29. He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him.
30. And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
31. The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
32. As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
33. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
34. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once.
35. And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36. Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.
37. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs.
38. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”
39. So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them.