| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest | 1Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, 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 requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. |
| 3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. | 3As he was going along, approaching Damascus, 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?” | 4He 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. | 5So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" He replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! |
| 6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” | 6But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do." |
| 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. | 7(Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw 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. | 8So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. |
| 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. | 9For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything. |
| 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 in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias," and he replied, "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, | 11Then the Lord told him, "Get up and go to the street called 'Straight,' and at Judas' house look 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 place his hands on him so that he may see again." |
| 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 replied, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in 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 imprison 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, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people 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 the sake of my name." |
| 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, placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again 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; | 18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, |
| 19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. | 19and after taking some food, his strength returned. For several days he was with the disciples in 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, "This man 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 who heard him were amazed and were saying, "Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to 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 became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. |
| 23When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, | 23Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, |
| 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, | 24but Saul learned of their plot against him. They were also watching the city gates day and night so that they could kill him. |
| 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 at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a 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 arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe 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 Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in 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. | 28So he was staying with them, associating openly with them 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. | 29He was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him. |
| 30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. | 30When the brothers found out about this, 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. | 31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers. |
| 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 around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. |
| 33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. | 33He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because 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 the Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed!" And immediately he got up. |
| 35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. | 35All those who lived in 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 in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity. |
| 37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. | 37At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs 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.” | 38Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Come to us without delay." |
| 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 got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing 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 outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up." Then 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. | 41He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. |
| 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. | 42This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. |
| 43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. | 43So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner. |
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