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

Saul was still talking much about how he would like to kill the followers of the Lord. He went to the head religious leader.

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.

He asked for letters to be written to the Jewish places of worship in the city of Damascus. The letters were to say that if he found any men or women following the Way of Christ he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

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

He went on his way until he came near Damascus. All at once he saw a light from heaven shining 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 ?

He fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against 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.

Saul answered, “Who are You, Lord?” He said, “I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.”

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.

Saul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, “What do You want me to do, Lord?” The Lord said to him, “Get up! Go into the city and you will be told what to do.”

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

Those with Saul were not able to say anything. They heard a voice but saw 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.

Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They took him by the hand and led him to Damascus.

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

He could not see for three days. During that time he did not eat or drink.

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.

In Damascus there was a follower by the name of Ananias. The Lord showed him in a dream what He wanted him to see. He said, “Ananias!” And Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord, I am here.”

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.

The Lord said, “Get up! Go over to Straight Street to Judas’ house and ask for a man from the city of Tarsus. His name is Saul. You will find him praying there.

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.

Saul has seen a man called Ananias in a dream. He is to come and put his hands on Saul so he might see again.”

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;

Ananias said, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man. He is the reason many of Your followers in Jerusalem have had to suffer much.

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

He came here with the right and the power from the head religious leaders to put everyone in chains who call on 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;

The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is the one I have chosen to carry My name among the people who are not Jews and to their kings and to Jews.

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.

I will show him how much he will have to suffer because of Me.” Saul Is Baptized

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 went to that house. He put his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me to you. You saw the Lord along the road as you came here. The Lord has sent me so you might be able to see again 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,

At once something like a covering fell from the eyes of Saul and he could see. He got up and was baptized.

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

After that he ate some food and received strength. For some days he stayed with the followers in Damascus. Saul Preaches the Good News

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

At once Saul began to preach in the Jewish places of worship that Jesus 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.

All who heard him were surprised and wondered. They said, “This is the man who beat and killed the followers in Jerusalem. He came here to tie the followers in chains and take them to the head religious leaders.”

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 kept on growing in power. The Jews living in Damascus wondered about Saul’s preaching. He was proving that Jesus was the Christ.

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

After some days the Jews talked together and made plans how they might kill Saul.

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

He heard of their plans. Day and night they watched for him at the city gates 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.

So the followers helped him get away at night. They let him down over the wall in a basket. Saul Comes to Jerusalem

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.

When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were afraid of him. They did not believe he was a true follower of Jesus.

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.

Then Barnabas took him to the missionaries. He told them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road. He told them also how the Lord had spoken to Saul and how he had preached without fear in Damascus in the name of Jesus.

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

After that he was with them going in and out of 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.

He preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him.

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

When the followers heard this, they took him down to the city of Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of 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.

Then the church through all the countries of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace for awhile. The church was made strong and it was given comfort by the Holy Spirit. It honored the Lord. More people were added to the church. Aeneas Is Healed

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

When Peter was visiting all parts of the country, he came to the faithful followers who were living in the city of Lydda.

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

A man there named Aeneas could not move his body. He had been in bed eight years.

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.

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your bed.” He got up at once.

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

All the people who lived in Lydda and in the city of Sharon saw Aeneas and they turned to the Lord. Dorcas Is Raised from the Dead

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

A woman who was a follower lived in the city of Joppa. Her name was Tabitha, or Dorcas. She did many good things and many acts of kindness.

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

One day she became sick and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her in a room on the second floor.

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.

The city of Lydda was near Joppa. The followers heard that Peter was at Lydda and sent two men to ask him to come at once.

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.

Peter went back with them. When he came, they took him to the room. All the women whose husbands had died were standing around crying. They were showing the clothes Dorcas had made 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.

Peter made them all leave the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes and looked at Peter and sat up.

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.

He took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then he called in the faithful followers and the women whose husbands had died. He gave her to them, a living person.

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

News of this went through all Joppa. Many people put their trust in the Lord.

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

After this, Peter stayed in Joppa many days in the house of Simon who worked with leather.