Study Desk

"Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.

And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.

His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.

and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.

The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so He opened not His mouth.

In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."

But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. With a glad heart he resumed his journey;

Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.

He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."

So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;

after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.

and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"

Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.

but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.

Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.

But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.

There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.

Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.