| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest | 1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to 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. | 2He asked him for letters to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. |
| 3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. | 3As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. |
| 4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"" | 4He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" |
| 5Who are You, Lord?" he said. "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," He replied. | 5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. |
| 6"But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." | 6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." |
| 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. | 7Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't 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. | 8When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn't see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. |
| 9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. | 9For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't 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. | 10Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord." |
| 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. | 11The Lord told him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he's 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."" | 12He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again." |
| 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, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. |
| 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name." | 14He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains 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. | 15But the Lord told him, "Go, because he's my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. |
| 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!" | 16since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." |
| 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 left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, 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. | 18All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. 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 eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus. |
| 20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "He is the Son of God." | 20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This 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?" | 21Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, "This is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesus' name in Jerusalem, isn't it? Didn't he come here to bring them in chains to the high 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 grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah. |
| 23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, | 23After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders plotted to murder Saul, |
| 24but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, | 24but their plot became known to him. They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him, |
| 25but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. | 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket. |
| 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 all were afraid of him because they wouldn't believe 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. | 27Barnabas, however, introduced Saul to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus. |
| 28Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. | 28So he freely circulated among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. |
| 29He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. | 29He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him. |
| 30When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. | 30When the brothers found out about the plot, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away 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. | 31So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through 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. | 32Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, he also visited the saints living 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 was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. |
| 34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and immediately he got up. | 34Peter told him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!" At once he got up, |
| 35So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. | 35and all the people 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 in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. |
| 37In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. | 37At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs 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 him and begged him, "Come here quickly!" |
| 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. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats 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. | 40Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw 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. | 41He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. |
| 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. | 42What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. |
| 43And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner. | 43Meanwhile, Peter stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker. |
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