HANDELINGE 9

Saulus se bekering

(Vgl. Hand. 22:6-16; 26:12-18)

1 Intussen het Saulus soos 'n besetene voortgegaan om die volgelinge van die Here met die dood te dreig. Hy het na die hoëpriester toe gegaan 2 en van hom bekendstellingsbriewe aan die sinagoges in Damaskus gevra. Sy doel was om al die aanhangers van die leer van die Here wat hy daar kry, mans sowel as vrouens, gevange te neem en na Jerusalem toe te bring.

3 Toe hy op reis naby Damaskus kom, het daar skielik 'n lig uit die hemel op hom gestraal. 4 Hy het op die grond neergeval en 'n stem vir hom hoor sê: “Saul, Saul, waarom vervolg jy My?”

5 “Wie is U, Here?” vra hy toe. “Ek is Jesus,” antwoord Hy. “Dit is vir My wat jy vervolg.t

6 Maar staan op en gaan na die stad toe. Daar sal vir jou gesê word wat jy moet doen.”

7 Die mense wat saam met hom op pad was, het sprakeloos gestaan. Hulle het die stem gehoor maar niemand gesien nie. 8 Toe Saulus van die grond af opstaan en sy oë oopmaak, kon hy nie sien nie. Hulle het sy hand gevat en hom na Damaskus toe gelei. 9 Drie dae lank kon hy nie sien nie en het hy niks geëet of gedrink nie.

10 In Damaskus was daar 'n sekere volgeling van Jesus met die naam Ananias. Die Here het hom in 'n gesig geroep: “Ananias!” “Hier is ek, Here,” het hy geantwoord.

11 En die Here sê vir hom: “Gaan dadelik na Reguitstraat toe en vra by Judas se huis na 'n man van Tarsus met die naam Saulus. Hy is besig om te bid 12 en hy het in 'n gesig 'n man met die naam Ananias sien inkom wat hom die hande oplê sodat hy weer kan sien.”

13 Maar Ananias sê: “Here, ek het al by baie mense van hierdie man gehoor en van al die kwaad wat hy die mense wat in U glo, in Jerusalem aangedoen het. 14 En nou is hy hier met volmag van die priesterhoofde om almal gevange te neem wat u Naam aanroep.”

15 Toe sê die Here vir hom: “Gaan daarheen, want Ek het hom gekies as my werktuig om my Naam uit te dra onder die heidennasies en hulle konings en ook onder Israel. 16 Ek self sal vir hom wys hoeveel hy vir my Naam moet ly.”

17 Ananias het toe gegaan en in daardie huis gekom. Hy het Saulus die hande opgelê en gesê: “Saul, broer, die Here Jesus wat aan jou verskyn het toe jy op pad hierheen was, het my na jou toe gestuur sodat jy weer kan sien en met die Heilige Gees vervul kan word.”

18 Onmiddellik het daar iets soos skille van Saulus se oë afgeval en kon hy weer sien. Toe het hy opgestaan en hy is gedoop; 19 en hy het geëet en sy kragte herwin.

Saulus preek in Damaskus

20 en dadelik in die sinagoges begin verkondig dat Jesus die Seun van God is. 21 Almal wat dit gehoor het, was verbaas en het gesê: “Is dit nie die man wat in Jerusalem die mense wat hierdie Naam aanroep, wou uitroei nie? En het hy nie ook hierheen gekom om hulle gevange te neem en voor die priesterhoofde te bring nie?”

22 Maar Saulus het al hoe kragtiger gepreek en die Jode wat in Damaskus woon, in die war gebring deur te bewys dat Jesus die Christus is.

23 Na verloop van tyd het die Jode saamgesweer om Saulus te vermoor, 24 maar hy het van hulle plan te hore gekom. Dag en nag was hulle by die stad se poorte op die uitkyk om hom dood te maak. 25 Maar sy medegelowiges het hom een nag geneem en in 'n mandjie laat afsak deur 'n opening in die stadsmuur.

Saulus in Jerusalem

26 Saulus het na Jerusalem toe gegaan en het geprobeer om daar by die volgelinge van Jesus aan te sluit, maar almal was vir hom bang, omdat hulle nie kon glo dat hy 'n volgeling van Jesus is nie. 27 Barnabas het hom egter oor Saulus ontferm en hom na die apostels toe gebring. Hy het vir hulle vertel hoe Saulus op die pad die Here gesien het en dat die Here met hom gepraat het, en hoe hy in Damaskus openlik in die Naam van Jesus gepreek het. 28 Saulus het toe oral in Jerusalem saam met hulle rondgegaan en openlik in die Naam van die Here gepreek. 29 Hy het ook met die Griekssprekende Jode gepraat en met hulle geredeneer; maar hulle het hom probeer vermoor. 30 Toe die gelowiges dit agterkom, het hulle hom na Sesarea toe geneem en hom daarvandaan na Tarsus toe weggestuur.

31 In die hele Judea, Galilea en Samaria het die kerk 'n tyd van rus en vrede belewe. Dit het gevestig geraak en in gehoorsaamheid aan die Here gelewe. Die kerk is deur die Heilige Gees versterk, en die ledetal het toegeneem.

Die genesing van Eneas

32 Petrus het baie rondgereis en het op 'n keer ook by die gelowiges gekom wat in Lidda gewoon het. 33 Daar het hy 'n man met die naam Eneas teëgekom wat verlam en al ag jaar lank bedlêend was.

34 “Eneas,” sê Petrus toe vir hom, “Jesus Christus maak jou gesond. Staan op en maak jou bed op.” Hy het dadelik opgestaan.

35 Al die mense van Lidda en die Saronvlakte het hom gesien en hulle tot die Here bekeer.

Die opwekking van Tabita

36 In Joppe was daar 'n gelowige vrou met die naam Tabita, in Grieks Dorkas. Sy was altyd besig om goed te doen en die armes te help. 37 Juis in die tyd toe Petrus in Lidda was, het sy siek geword en gesterwe. Hulle het haar gewas en in 'n bokamer neergelê. 38 Aangesien Lidda naby Joppe is en die gelowiges gehoor het dat Petrus daar is, het hulle twee mans na hom toe gestuur met die versoek: “Kom tog gou na ons toe oor.”

39 Petrus het dadelik saam met hulle gegaan en toe hy daar kom, het hulle hom na die bokamer toe geneem. Al die weduwees het by hom kom staan en snikkend vir hom die klere gewys wat Dorkas gemaak het toe sy nog gelewe het. 40 Nadat Petrus almal uitgestuur het, het hy gekniel en gebid. Toe het hy na die liggaam gedraai en gesê: “Tabita, staan op!” Sy het haar oë oopgemaak en toe sy vir Petrus sien, het sy regop gesit.

41 Hy het haar met die hand help opstaan, die weduwees en die ander gelowiges geroep en haar lewend voor hulle gebring. 42 Die hele Joppe het hiervan gehoor, en baie mense het tot geloof in die Here gekom.

43 Petrus het geruime tyd daar in Joppe gebly by 'n sekere Simon, 'n leerlooier.

Acts 9

1  MEANWHILE SAUL, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest2  And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.3  Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,4  And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]?5  And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance]. 6  Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.7  The men who were accompanying him were unable to speak [for terror], hearing the voice but seeing no one.8  Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.9  And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank [anything].10  Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.11  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 of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there].12  And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.13  But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem;14  Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.15  But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;16  For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.17  So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.18  And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,19  And after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days [afterward] he remained with the disciples at Damascus.20  And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!21  And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before the chief priests.22  But Saul increased all the more in strength, and continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).23  After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,24  But [the knowledge of] their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the [city’s] gates day and night to kill him,25  But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the [city’s] wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper.26  And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple.27  However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus.28  So he went in and out [as one] among them at Jerusalem,29  Preaching freely and confidently and boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him.30  And when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].31  So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.32  Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he went down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.33  There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedfast for eight years and was paralyzed.34  And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [now] makes you whole. Get up and make your bed! And immediately [Aeneas] stood up.35  Then all the inhabitants of Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him and they turned to the Lord.36  Now there was at Joppa a disciple [a woman] named [in Aramaic] Tabitha, which [in Greek] means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.37  About that time she fell sick and died, and when they had cleansed her, they laid [her] in an upper room.38  Since Lydda was near Joppa [however], the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him begging him, Do come to us without delay.39  So Peter [immediately] rose and accompanied them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, crying and displaying undershirts (tunics) and [other] garments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she was with them.40  But Peter put them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright.41  And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling in God’s people and the widows, he presented her to them alive.42  And this became known throughout all Joppa, and many came to believe on the Lord [to adhere to and trust in and rely on Him as the Christ and as their Savior].43  And Peter remained in Joppa for considerable time with a certain Simon a tanner.