Study Desk

'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL FOR MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord, 'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REST?

Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen's death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

For unclean spirits (demons), shouting loudly, were coming out of many who were possessed; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic.

They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession].

"For I see that you are provoked by bitterness and bound by sin."

But Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me."

"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY [justice was denied Him]. WHO WILL DESCRIBE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH."

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,

and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.

And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there],

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name's sake."

and he took some food and was strengthened. Saul Begins to Preach Christ For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.

All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?"

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

And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.

"Now send men to Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];