Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

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

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, 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.

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

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

4Falling to the ground, he 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?”

5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul said. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting," he replied.

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

6"But get up 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.”

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

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

8Saul 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 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.

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

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

10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." "Here I am, Lord," he replied.

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.”

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.

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,

12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain 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.”

13"Lord," 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 from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest 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 this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.

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.

16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17Ananias went and entered the house. 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 may regain 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.”

18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

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

19And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time.

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

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

20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21All who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners 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 grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

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

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

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

24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill 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 by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe 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.

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 the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly 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.

28Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

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

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

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

30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

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.

32As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived 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 man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

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

34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and immediately he got up.

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

35So all who lived in 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.

36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

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

37About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, "Don't delay in coming with us."

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.”

39Peter 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 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.

40Peter 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 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.

41He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

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

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

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

43Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

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

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.