1 M eanwhile Saul, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Meanwhile Saul, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 A nd requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 N ow as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,

Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,

4 A nd he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me ?

And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me ?

5 A nd Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad.

And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad.

6 T rembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

7 T he men who were accompanying him were unable to speak, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

The men who were accompanying him were unable to speak, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 T hen Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 A nd he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.

10 N ow there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.

Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.

11 A nd the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying.

And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying.

12 A nd he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.

And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.

13 B ut Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem;

But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem;

14 N ow he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.

Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.

15 B ut the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;

But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;

16 F or I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.

For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.

17 S o Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

18 A nd instantly something like scales fell from eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,

And instantly something like scales fell from eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,

19 A nd after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days he remained with the disciples at Damascus.

And after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days he remained with the disciples at Damascus.

20 A nd immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!

And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!

21 A nd all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before the chief priests.

And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before the chief priests.

22 B ut Saul increased all the more in strength, and continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).

23 A fter considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,

After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,

24 B ut their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the gates day and night to kill him,

But their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the gates day and night to kill him,

25 B ut his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper.

But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper.

26 A nd when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple.

And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple.

27 H owever, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus.

However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus.

28 S o he went in and out among them at Jerusalem,

So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem,

29 P reaching freely and confidently and boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him.

Preaching freely and confidently and boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him.

30 A nd when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

And when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 S o the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.

So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.

32 N ow as Peter went here and there among them all, he went down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he went down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

33 T here he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedfast for eight years and was paralyzed.

There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedfast for eight years and was paralyzed.

34 A nd Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) makes you whole. Get up and make your bed! And immediately stood up.

And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) makes you whole. Get up and make your bed! And immediately stood up.

35 T hen all the inhabitants of Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.

Then all the inhabitants of Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.

36 N ow there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.

Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.

37 A bout that time she fell sick and died, and when they had cleansed her, they laid in an upper room.

About that time she fell sick and died, and when they had cleansed her, they laid in an upper room.

38 S ince Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him begging him, Do come to us without delay.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him begging him, Do come to us without delay.

39 S o Peter rose and accompanied them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, crying and displaying undershirts (tunics) and garments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she was with them.

So Peter rose and accompanied them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, crying and displaying undershirts (tunics) and garments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she was with them.

40 B ut Peter put them all out and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright.

But Peter put them all out and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright.

41 A nd he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling in God’s people and the widows, he presented her to them alive.

And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling in God’s people and the widows, he presented her to them alive.

42 A nd this became known throughout all Joppa, and many came to believe on the Lord.

And this became known throughout all Joppa, and many came to believe on the Lord.

43 A nd Peter remained in Joppa for considerable time with a certain Simon a tanner.

And Peter remained in Joppa for considerable time with a certain Simon a tanner.