| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest | 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He 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 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. |
| 3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. | 3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. |
| 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” | 4Falling 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.” | 5Who are You, Lord?" he said. "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," He replied. |
| 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.” | 6"But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must 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 sound 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. | 8Then Saul 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. |
| 9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. | 9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. |
| 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.” | 10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!"" Here I am, Lord!" he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can 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. | 13Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. |
| 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” | 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest 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 this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. |
| 16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” | 16I will show him how much he must suffer for 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 left and entered the house. Then 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 can 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. | 18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. |
| 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. | 19And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. |
| 20Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. | 20Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "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?” | 21But all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to 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 grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah. |
| 23Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. | 23After many days had passed, the Jews conspired 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. So they were watching the gates day and night intending 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 lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. |
| 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. | 26When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe 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. | 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 He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. |
| 28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. | 28Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking 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. | 29He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. |
| 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. | 30When the brothers found out, they took 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, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. |
| 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. | 32As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in 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, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. |
| 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. | 34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and immediately he got up. |
| 35So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. | 35So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and 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. | 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing 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 sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. |
| 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 heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us." |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 40Then Peter 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. |
| 41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. | 41He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. |
| 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. | 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. |
| 43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. | 43And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner. |
|
