New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to 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 asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting 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.”

5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

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.”

6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

7And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

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 rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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.”

10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

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.

11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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.”

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.”

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, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

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

14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind 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.

15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of 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 departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight 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.

18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

20Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “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?”

21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before 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 increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

23When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,

24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.

24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,

25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

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.

26And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe 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.

27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching 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.

29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.

30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

30And when the brothers learned this, they brought 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.

31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

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.

32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at 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, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

35So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they 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.

36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of 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.

37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her 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, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please 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 rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was 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.

40But Peter put them all outside, 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.

41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.