1 ¶ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came unto the prince of the priests

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 asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto 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 A nd as he proceeded, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven;

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 falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute 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 he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou dost persecute; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

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 A nd he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behooves thee to 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 A nd the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed 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 arose from the earth; and opening his eyes, he saw no one; 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 w here he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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

10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, 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 unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prays

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 has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive 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 T hen Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, of how much evil he has done to thy saints in 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 a nd even here he has authority from the princes of the priests to bind all that call on thy 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 unto him, Go; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons 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 show him how much it behooves him to suffer for my name.

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

17 T hen Ananias went and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared unto thee in the way as thou didst come, has sent me, that thou might receive thy 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 immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight immediately and 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 when he had received food, he was comforted. Then Saul was certain days with the disciples who were 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 straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that 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 B ut all that heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and came here for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the princes of the 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 the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

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 ¶ And as many days passed, the Jews took counsel among themselves to kill him;

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

24 b ut their ambushes were understood by Saul. And they watched 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 T hen the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket.

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 Saul was come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he 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 B ut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus 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 A nd he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem;

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

29 a nd he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Greeks; but they went about 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 w hich when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth 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 T hen the congregations had rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and with the comfort of the Holy Spirit they were 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 ¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints who dwelt 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 A nd there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been in bed eight years, for he was a paralytic.

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

34 A nd Peter said unto him, Aeneas, the Lord Jesus, the Christ, makes thee whole; arise and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

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

35 A nd all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him and 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 ¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas; this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

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 nd it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died, whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

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

38 A nd since as Lydda was close to Joppa and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, asking him that he not delay to come to them.

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 T hen Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made them 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 T hen Peter put them all out and knelt down and prayed and turned to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her 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 it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

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

43 A nd it came to pass that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

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