Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest

1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he 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 requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

3As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down 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 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.

5“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

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 with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

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 picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

9He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

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 there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.

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 said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.

12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.""

12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can 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.

13“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

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

14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon 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 said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!"

16 And I will 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 went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight 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.

18Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then 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.

19Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "He is the Son of God."

20And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed 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 amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

22But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.

22Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

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

23After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.

24but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,

24They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.

25but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

25So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city 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 meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

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 told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly 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 Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

29He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him.

29He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

30When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

30When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.

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.

31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas

32As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

32Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda.

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

33There he met 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.

34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly.

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

35Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they 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.

36There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas ). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

37In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

37About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid 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."

38But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”

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 returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for 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.

40But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! 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 gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.

42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

42The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.

43And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

43And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.