Study Desk

He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

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

But the Lord said to him, "Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.

I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!"

And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.

But all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?"

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

He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

"No, Lord!" Peter said. "For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!"

While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, "Three men are here looking for you.

Then Peter went down to the men and said, "Here I am, the one you're looking for. What is the reason you're here?"

Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.

That's why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?"

Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord."

For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded,

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

"‘No, Lord!' I said. ‘For nothing common or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!'

He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.