| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest | 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest |
| 2and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. | 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. |
| 3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. | 3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. |
| 4Falling 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 say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” |
| 5Who are You, Lord?" he said. "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," He replied. | 5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. |
| 6"But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." | 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” |
| 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. | 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. |
| 8Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. | 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. |
| 9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. | 9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything. |
| 10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!"" Here I am, Lord!" he said. | 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. |
| 11"Get up and go to the street called Straight," the Lord said to him, "to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. | 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. |
| 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight."" | 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” |
| 13Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. | 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. |
| 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name." | 14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” |
| 15But the Lord said to him, "Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. | 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. |
| 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!" | 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” |
| 17So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." | 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.” |
| 18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. | 18At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized, |
| 19And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. | 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. |
| 20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "He is the Son of God." | 20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.” |
| 21But all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?" | 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?” |
| 22But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah. | 22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. |
| 23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, | 23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, |
| 24but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, | 24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. |
| 25but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. | 25One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. |
| 26When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. | 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. |
| 27Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. | 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. |
| 28Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. | 28So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. |
| 29He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. | 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. |
| 30When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. | 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. |
| 31So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. | 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. |
| 32As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. | 32As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. |
| 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. | 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. |
| 34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and immediately he got up. | 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up, |
| 35So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. | 35and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. |
| 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity. | 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. |
| 37In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. | 37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. |
| 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us." | 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” |
| 39So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. | 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. |
| 40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. | 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. |
| 41He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. | 41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive. |
| 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. | 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. |
| 43And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner. | 43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. |
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