| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, 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 asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound 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 journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. | 3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. |
| 4Then he fell to the ground, and 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?” |
| 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” | 5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. |
| 6So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise 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.” |
| 7And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. | 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. |
| 8Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought 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. |
| 9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. | 9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything. |
| 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” | 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. |
| 11So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. | 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. |
| 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” | 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” |
| 13Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many 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 here he has authority from the chief priests to bind 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 he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. | 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. |
| 16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” | 16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” |
| 17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive 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.” |
| 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose 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, |
| 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. | 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. |
| 20Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. | 20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.” |
| 21Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound 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 increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. | 22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. |
| 23Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. | 23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, |
| 24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. | 24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. |
| 25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. | 25One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. |
| 26And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that 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. |
| 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus 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. |
| 28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. | 28So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. |
| 29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. | 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. |
| 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. | 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. |
| 31Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. | 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. |
| 32Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. | 32As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. |
| 33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. | 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. |
| 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. | 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up, |
| 35So all who dwelt at 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. |
| 36At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. | 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. |
| 37But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. | 37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. |
| 38And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. | 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” |
| 39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which 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. |
| 40But Peter put 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. | 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. |
| 41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he 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. |
| 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. | 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. |
| 43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. | 43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. |
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