Berean Study Bible

English Standard Version

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.

7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

23When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,

24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,

25One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

26And 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.

27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

28So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.

30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

32As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

35and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”

39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

40But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

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ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.