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1 # And <1161> Saul <4569>, yet <2089> breathing out <1709> (5723) threatenings <547> and <2532> slaughter <5408> against <1519> the disciples <3101> of the Lord <2962>, went <4334> (5631) unto the high priest <749>,
2 And desired <154> (5668) of <3844> him <846> letters <1992> to <1519> Damascus <1154> to <4314> the synagogues <4864>, that <3704> if <1437> he found <2147> (5632) any <5100> of this way <3598> , whether <5037> they were <5607> (5752) men <435> or <2532> women <1135>, he might bring them <71> (5632) bound <1210> (5772) unto <1519> Jerusalem <2419>.
3 And <1161> as he <846> journeyed <4198> (5738) <1722>, he came <1096> (5633) near <1448> (5721) Damascus <1154>: and <2532> suddenly <1810> there shined round about <4015> (5656) him <846> a light <5457> from <575> heaven <3772>:
4 And <2532> he fell <4098> (5631) to <1909> the earth <1093>, and heard <191> (5656) a voice <5456> saying <3004> (5723) unto him <846>, Saul <4549>, Saul <4549>, why <5101> persecutest thou <1377> (5719) me <3165>?
We are not sure whether he fell off a horse or that he was walking and fell to the ground.

5 And <1161> he said <2036> (5627), Who <5101> art thou <1488> (5748), Lord <2962>? And <1161> the Lord <2962> said <2036> (5627), I <1473> am <1510> (5748) Jesus <2424> whom <3739> thou <4771> persecutest <1377> (5719): it is hard <4642> for thee <4671> to kick <2979> (5721) against <4314> the pricks <2759>.
The voice must have carried authority because he called Him Lord. The picture here is of an animal that is steered by being prodded with goads. The Lord was pushing him in a direction he did not want to go and he was acting like a wild stallion.

6 And <5037> he trembling <5141> (5723) and <2532> astonished <2284> (5723) said <2036> (5627), Lord <2962>, what <5101> wilt thou have <2309> (5719) me <3165> to do <4160> (5658)? And <2532> the Lord <2962> said unto <4314> him <846>, Arise <450> (5628), and <2532> go <1525> (5628) into <1519> the city <4172>, and <2532> it shall be told <2980> (5701) thee <4671> what <5101> thou <4571> must <1163> (5748) do <4160> (5721).
Paul did not expect to hear from Jesus. But he was filled with fear and shaking. He probably expected the Lord to wipe him out because of what he had been doing.

7 And <1161> the men <435> which <3588> journeyed <4922> (5723) with him <846> stood <2476> (5715) speechless <1769>, hearing <191> (5723) <3303> a voice <5456>, but <1161> seeing <2334> (5723) no man <3367>.
Others could hear the voice, but they probably did not see the light either. Paul, however, may have seen the Lord in bright shining glory.

8 And <1161> Saul <4569> arose <1453> (5681) from <575> the earth <1093>; and <1161> when his <846> eyes <3788> were opened <455> (5772), he saw <991> (5707) no man <3762>: but <1161> they led <5496> <0> him <846> by the hand <5496> (5723), and brought <1521> (5627) him into <1519> Damascus <1154>.
9 And <2532> he was <2258> (5713) three <5140> days <2250> without <3361> sight <991> (5723), and <2532> neither <3756> did eat <5315> (5627) nor <3761> drink <4095> (5627).
He was in such an emotional state that he did not even eat or drink water. Three days is about the maximum you can go without water.

10 # And <1161> there was <2258> (5713) a certain <5100> disciple <3101> at <1722> Damascus <1154> , named <3686> Ananias <367>; and <2532> to <4314> him <846> said <2036> (5627) the Lord <2962> in <1722> a vision <3705>, Ananias <367>. And <1161> he said <2036> (5627), Behold <2400> (5628), I <1473> am here, Lord <2962>.
Notice that God did not use a prophet here, just an ordinary believer. Any believer can have visions and hear from God.
- VISIONS

11 And <1161> the Lord <2962> said unto <4314> him <846>, Arise <450> (5631), and go <4198> (5676) into <1909> the street <4505> which <3588> is called <2564> (5746) Straight <2117>, and <2532> enquire <2212> (5657) in <1722> the house <3614> of Judas <2455> for one called <3686> Saul <4569> , of Tarsus <5018>: for <1063>, behold <2400> (5628), he prayeth <4336> (5736),
12 And <2532> hath seen <1492> (5627) in <1722> a vision <3705> a man <435> named <3686> Ananias <367> coming in <1525> (5631), and <2532> putting <2007> <0> his hand <5495> on <2007> (5631) him <846>, that <3704> he might receive his sight <308> (5661).
God can also give visions to unbelievers.

13 Then <1161> Ananias <367> answered <611> (5662), Lord <2962>, I have heard <191> (5754) by <575> many <4183> of <4012> this <5127> man <435>, how much <3745> evil <2556> he hath done <4160> (5656) to thy <4675> saints <40> at <1722> Jerusalem <2419>:
14 And <2532> here <5602> he hath <2192> (5719) authority <1849> from <3844> the chief priests <749> to bind <1210> (5658) all <3956> that call <1941> (5734) on thy <4675> name <3686>.
15 But <1161> the Lord <2962> said <2036> (5627) unto <4314> him <846>, Go thy way <4198> (5737): for <3754> he <3778> is <2076> (5748) a chosen <1589> vessel <4632> unto me <3427>, to bear <941> (5658) my <3450> name <3686> before <1799> the Gentiles <1484>, and <2532> kings <935>, and <5037> the children <5207> of Israel <2474>:
Notice that God made the choice here, not Paul. Every believer was likely praying for Saul to stop the persecution, and the Lord answered by calling Paul to higher service. Note that God said he would preach to both Gentiles and Jews.

16 For <1063> I <1473> will shew <5263> (5692) him <846> how great things <3745> he <846> must <1163> (5748) suffer <3958> (5629) for <5228> <0> my <3450> name's sake <3686> <5228> .
Paul's sufferings were all in God's plan for him to become one of the main apostles. A call to higher office will always carry a price tag that involves suffering.

17 And <1161> Ananias <367> went his way <565> (5627), and <2532> entered <1525> (5627) into <1519> the house <3614>; and <2532> putting <2007> (5631) his hands <5495> on <1909> him <846> said <2036> (5627), Brother <80> Saul <4549>, the Lord <2962>, even Jesus <2424>, that appeared <3700> (5685) unto thee <4671> in <1722> the way <3598> as <3739> thou camest <2064> (5711), hath sent <649> (5758) me <3165>, that <3704> thou mightest receive thy sight <308> (5661), and <2532> be filled with <4130> (5686) the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>.
Ananias calls him a brother. He did not even present the Gospel to him but came to pray for him to receive the Holy Spirit. Note here it only took an ordinary believer to pray for someone to receive the Holy Spirit. It was different when Peter and John as apostles went to pray for the people that Philip had brought to the Lord.
- FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

18 And <2532> immediately <2112> there fell <634> (5627) from <575> his <846> eyes <3788> as <5616> it had been scales <3013>: and he received sight <308> (5656) forthwith <3916>, and <5037> arose <450> (5631), and <2532> was baptized <907> (5681).
When Luke wrote this, obviously, Paul had shared his experience, which included this event. Notice that baptism was always done immediately after a person became a believer.
- WATER BAPTISM

19 And <2532> when he had received <2983> (5631) meat <5160>, he was strengthened <1765> (5656). Then <1161> was <1096> (5633) Saul <4569> certain <5100> days <2250> with <3326> the disciples <3101> which were at <1722> Damascus <1154>.
20 And <2532> straightway <2112> he preached <2784> (5707) Christ <5547> in <1722> the synagogues <4864>, that <3754> he <3778> is <2076> (5748) the Son <5207> of God <2316>.
He was already well-trained in theology and able to preach. He had learned under Gamaliel.

21 But <1161> all <3956> that heard <191> (5723) him were amazed <1839> (5710), and <2532> said <3004> (5707); Is <2076> (5748) not <3756> this <3778> he that destroyed <4199> (5660) them which <3588> called on <1941> (5734) this <5124> name <3686> in <1722> Jerusalem <2419>, and <2532> came <2064> (5715) hither <5602> for <1519> <0> that <5124> intent <1519>, that <2443> he might bring <71> (5632) them <846> bound <1210> (5772) unto <1909> the chief priests <749>?
22 But <1161> Saul <4569> increased <1743> <0> the more <3123> in strength <1743> (5712) , and <2532> confounded <4797> (5707) the Jews <2453> which <3588> dwelt <2730> (5723) at <1722> Damascus <1154>, proving <4822> (5723) that <3754> this <3778> is <2076> (5748) very Christ <5547>.
He rose up very quickly and became a threat to the Jews because of his knowledge of Jewish teaching.

23 # And <1161> after <5613> that many <2425> days <2250> were fulfilled <4137> (5712), the Jews <2453> took counsel <4823> (5668) to kill <337> (5629) him <846>:
24 But <1161> their <846> laying await <1917> was known <1097> (5681) of Saul <4569>. And <5037> they watched <3906> (5707) the gates <4439> day <2250> and <2532> night <3571> to <3704> kill <337> (5661) him <846>.
25 Then <1161> the disciples <3101> took <2983> (5631) him <846> by night <3571>, and let him down <2524> (5656) <5465> (5660) by <1223> the wall <5038> in <1722> a basket <4711>.
26 And <1161> when Saul <4569> was come <3854> (5637) to <1519> Jerusalem <2419>, he assayed <3987> (5711) to join himself <2853> (5745) to the disciples <3101>: but <2532> they were <5399> <0> all <3956> afraid <5399> (5711) of him <846>, and believed <4100> (5723) not <3361> that <3754> he was <2076> (5748) a disciple <3101>.
You couldn't blame them after what he had been doing.

27 But <1161> Barnabas <921> took <1949> (5637) him <846>, and brought <71> (5627) him to <4314> the apostles <652>, and <2532> declared <1334> (5662) unto them <846> how <4459> he had seen <1492> (5627) the Lord <2962> in <1722> the way <3598>, and <2532> that <3754> he had spoken <2980> (5656) to him <846>, and <2532> how <4459> he had preached boldly <3955> (5662) at <1722> Damascus <1154> in <1722> the name <3686> of Jesus <2424>.
Barnabus was Paul's mentor in the Christian way. He was known as the son of consolation and had a ministry of taking young believers and building them up. Later when Paul did not want John Mark, it was Barnabus who took him in and made him into a leader who wrote the Gospel of Mark.

28 And <2532> he was <2258> (5713) with <3326> them <846> coming in <1531> (5740) and <2532> going out <1607> (5740) at <1722> Jerusalem <2419>.
29 And <2532> he spake <2980> (5707) boldly <3955> (5740) in <1722> the name <3686> of the Lord <2962> Jesus <2424>, and <5037> <2532> disputed <4802> (5707) against <4314> the Grecians <1675> : but <1161> they went about <2021> (5707) to slay <337> (5629) him <846>.
Paul was clearly very analytical and argumentative.

30 Which when <1161> the brethren <80> knew <1921> (5631), they brought <2609> <0> him <846> down <2609> (5627) to <1519> Caesarea <2542>, and <2532> sent <1821> <0> him <846> forth <1821> (5656) to <1519> Tarsus <5019>.
They sent him back to his home town.

31 Then <3303> <3767> had <2192> (5707) the churches <1577> rest <1515> throughout <2596> all <3650> Judaea <2449> and <2532> Galilee <1056> and <2532> Samaria <4540>, and were edified <3618> (5746) ; and <2532> walking in <4198> (5740) the fear <5401> of the Lord <2962>, and <2532> in the comfort <3874> of the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>, were multiplied <4129> (5712).
32 # And <1161> it came <1096> (5633) to pass, as <1330> <0> Peter <4074> passed throughout <1330> (5740) <1223> all <3956> quarters, he came down <2718> (5629) also <2532> to <4314> the saints <40> which <3588> dwelt <2730> (5723) at Lydda <3069>.
33 And <1161> there <1563> he found <2147> (5627) a certain <5100> man <444> named <3686> Aeneas <132>, which had kept <2621> (5740) <1909> his bed <2895> <1537> eight <3638> years <2094>, and <3739> was <2258> (5713) sick of the palsy <3886> (5772).
Palsy was a form of paralysis. It still exists today in the form of cerebral palsy which affects the brain, and Bell's palsy which affects the side of the face.

34 And <2532> Peter <4074> said <2036> (5627) unto him <846>, Aeneas <132>, Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> maketh <2390> <0> thee <4571> whole <2390> (5736): arise <450> (5628), and <2532> make <4766> <0> thy <4572> bed <4766> (5657). And <2532> he arose <450> (5627) immediately <2112>.
Notice Peter did not lay hands on him, but simply spoke the words. Jesus also performed healings in two ways - by laying on of hands or by speaking a word of command. Usually the gift of healing functions through laying on of hands, whereas the gift of miracles is usually released using words.

35 And <2532> all <3956> that dwelt <2730> (5723) at Lydda <3069> and <2532> Saron <4565> saw <1492> (5627) him <846>, and <3748> turned <1994> (5656) to <1909> the Lord <2962>.
This is the primary purpose of miracles - to make people aware that God's power is available to them. They then open their hearts to receive Jesus as their savior.

36 # Now <1161> there was <2258> (5713) at <1722> Joppa <2445> a certain <5100> disciple <3102> named <3686> Tabitha <5000>, which <3739> by interpretation <1329> (5746) is called <3004> (5743) Dorcas <1393>: this woman <3778> (5625) <846> was <2258> (5713) full <4134> of good <18> works <2041> and <2532> almsdeeds <1654> which <3739> she did <4160> (5707).
37 And <1161> it came to pass <1096> (5633) in <1722> those <1565> days <2250>, that she was sick <770> (5660), and died <599> (5629): whom when <1161> they <846> had washed <3068> (5660) <846> , they laid <5087> (5656) her in <1722> an upper chamber <5253>.
It was common practice to wash a body when a person died before they are buried.

38 And <1161> forasmuch as <5607> (5752) Lydda <3069> was nigh <1451> to Joppa <2445>, and the disciples <3101> had heard <191> (5660) that <3754> Peter <4074> was <2076> (5748) there <1722> <846> , they sent <649> (5656) unto <4314> him <846> two <1417> men <435>, desiring <3870> (5723) him that he would <3635> <0> not <3361> delay <3635> (5658) to come <1330> (5629) to <2193> them <846>.
39 Then <1161> Peter <4074> arose <450> (5631) and went with <4905> (5627) them <846>. When he <3739> was come <3854> (5637), they brought him <321> (5627) into <1519> the upper chamber <5253>: and <2532> all <3956> the widows <5503> stood by <3936> (5656) him <846> weeping <2799> (5723), and <2532> shewing <1925> (5734) the coats <5509> and <2532> garments <2440> which <3745> Dorcas <1393> made <4160> (5707), while she was <5607> (5752) with <3326> them <846>.
40 But <1161> Peter <4074> put <1544> (5631) them all <3956> forth <1854>, and kneeled down <5087> (5631) <1119>, and prayed <4336> (5662); and <2532> turning <1994> (5660) him to <4314> the body <4983> said <2036> (5627), Tabitha <5000>, arise <450> (5628). And <1161> she opened <455> (5656) her <846> eyes <3788>: and <2532> when she saw <1492> (5631) Peter <4074>, she sat up <339> (5656).
This was a bit different from the way Jesus raised Lazarus, where He spoke to the Father, indicating He had already prayed. Peter had to pray, not to ask for God to raise her, but to get his spirit activated with the power of God. Once he had a rhema word from God, he then simply turned to the dead body and told her to get up.

41 And <1161> he gave <1325> (5631) her <846> his hand <5495>, and lifted <450> <0> her <846> up <450> (5656), and <1161> when he had called <5455> (5660) the saints <40> and <2532> widows <5503>, presented <3936> (5656) her <846> alive <2198> (5723).
Similar to how he healed the man at the temple - where he also took him by the hand.

42 And <1161> it was <1096> (5633) known <1110> throughout <2596> all <3650> Joppa <2445> ; and <2532> many <4183> believed <4100> (5656) in <1909> the Lord <2962>.
43 And <1161> it came to pass <1096> (5633), that he <846> tarried <3306> (5658) many <2425> days <2250> in <1722> Joppa <2445> with <3844> one <5100> Simon <4613> a tanner <1038>.
He must have remained for some time because later, God told Cornelius to send for Peter, who was living with Simon, the Tanner. Peter was involved in an itinerant ministry. One wonders what happened to his wife and family while he was away. However, Paul gives us some insight into this when referring to Peter and his wife while writing to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we not have the right to take along a sister, a wife, just like the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Peter? [GBMV]