New King James Version

New Living Translation

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

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

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.

3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

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

4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

4He fell to the ground and 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.”

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

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 Now 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 with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw 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.

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.

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

9He remained there blind 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.”

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

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.

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.

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.”

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

13Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

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

14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon 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, “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.

16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

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

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 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.”

18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

18Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s 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.

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.

20Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

20And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed 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?”

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?”

22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

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

23Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

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

24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

28So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching 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 debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

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

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.

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

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.

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

33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.

33There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and 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 roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly.

35So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

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

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.

37But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

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

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.

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!”

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 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.

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.

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!

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 up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.

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

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

43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.