New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.

3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

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

8Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.

10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.

11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.

23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.

24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

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

26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

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

29He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.

30Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas

31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda.

32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

33And there he found a certain man named AEneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly.

34And Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.

35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas ). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.

37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

38But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”

38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.

39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!

40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.

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

42The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.

42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

43And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.