English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

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.

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

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

3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

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

4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

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

5And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

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

6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

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

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

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.

8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

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

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

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.”

10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

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,

11And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

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.”

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, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;

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

14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

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.

15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

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

16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

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.”

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

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

18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

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

19and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

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

20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

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?”

21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"

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

22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

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

23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,

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

24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

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

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

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.

26When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

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.

27But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

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

29And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

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

30But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

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.

31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

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

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

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

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

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

34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up.

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

35And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

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

36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

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

37And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

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.”

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us."

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.

39So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

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.

40But Peter sent them all out 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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