International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to the high priest.

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

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.

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 Saul traveled along and was approaching 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.

4He dropped 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?”

5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

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

6Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

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

7Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone.

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

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.

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.

9For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.

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

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."

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.”

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.

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,

12He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again."

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.”

13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man 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.

14He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains 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 told him, "Go, because he's my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants 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.

16since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."

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

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."

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.”

18All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. 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 eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus.

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

20He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This is the Son of God."

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

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?"

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 more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was 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 several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders plotted to murder Saul,

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

24but their plot became known to him. They were even watching the gates day and night to murder 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 one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket.

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

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.

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, 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.

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 freely circulated among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously 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 kept talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were bent on murdering him.

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

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

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

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.

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 when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, he also visited the saints living 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 told him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!" At once he got up,

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

35and all the people 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 in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing.

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

37At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room.

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 and begged him, "Come here quickly!"

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.”

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.

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 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.

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 extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive.

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

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

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

43Meanwhile, Peter stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.