Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Now 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 for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

4and he fell to the ground and 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 get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

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

7The men who traveled 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 got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

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

9And he was three days 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; and 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, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 harm he did 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 bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons 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 My name's sake."

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 after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, 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 there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

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

19and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

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

20and immediately he began to proclaim 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?"

21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing 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 kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

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

23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with 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 also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

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 large 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.

26When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing 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 hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

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

29And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

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

30But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away 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 enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

32As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, 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, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

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

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

35So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

35And all who lived at 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 in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

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

37And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it 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, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us."

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 arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make 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 sent 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.

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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

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

42It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

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

43And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

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

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