Study Desk

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza."

He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone's voice but saw no one!

He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

The Lord said, "Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.

But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."

Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.

There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.

So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.

Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you.

Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them."

So Peter went down and said, "I'm the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"

So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.