New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, | 1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to the high priest. |
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. | 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 was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; | 3As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. |
4and he fell to the ground and 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?" |
5And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, | 5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. |
6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." | 6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." |
7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice 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. |
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. | 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. |
9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. | 9For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything. |
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." | 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." |
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, | 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. |
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." | 12He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again." |
13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; | 13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. |
14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind 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 he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; | 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. |
16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." | 16since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." |
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." | 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." |
18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and 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 he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, | 19and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus. |
20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." | 20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This is the Son of God." |
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?" | 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 kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. | 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. |
23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, | 23After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders plotted to murder Saul, |
24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; | 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 let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. | 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. | 28So he freely circulated among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. |
29And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. | 29He kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him. |
30But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away 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 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. | 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. |
32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at 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 had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. | 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." 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, |
35And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. | 35and all the people who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to 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 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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
41And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he 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. |
42It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. | 42What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. |
43And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. | 43Meanwhile, Peter stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker. |
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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