Study Desk

The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;

I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,

All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"

When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter;

But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean."

Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, three men are searching for you.

Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them."

So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?"

They answered, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."

and he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.

So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?"

Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'

Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say."