1 A nd Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the chief 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 d id ask from him letters to Damascus, unto the synagogues, that if he may find any being of the way, both men and women, he may 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 A nd in the going, he came nigh to Damascus, and suddenly there shone round about him a light from the 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 having fallen upon the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, `Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute?'

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; hard for thee at the pricks to kick;'

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 also, and astonished, he said, `Lord, what dost thou wish me to do?' and the Lord unto him, `Arise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behoveth 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 are journeying 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 a nd Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes having been opened, he beheld no one, and leading him by the hand they brought him to 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 three days without seeing, and he did neither eat nor drink.

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

10 A nd there was a certain disciple in Damascus, by name Ananias, and the Lord said unto him in a vision, `Ananias;' and he said, `Behold me, 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 unto him, `Having risen, go on unto the street that is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, by name Saul of Tarsus, for, lo, he doth pray,

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 saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and putting a hand on him, that he may see again.'

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 A nd Ananias answered, `Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he did 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 here he hath authority from the chief priests, to bind all those calling 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 A nd the Lord said unto him, `Be going on, because a choice vessel to Me is this one, to bear My name before nations and kings -- the sons also 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 shew him how many things it behoveth him for My name to suffer.'

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

17 A nd Ananias went away, and did enter into the house, and having put upon him hands, said, `Saul, brother, the Lord hath sent me -- Jesus who did appear to thee in the way in which thou wast coming -- that thou mayest see again, and mayest 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 were scales, he saw again also presently, and having risen, 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 having received nourishment, was strengthened, and Saul was with the disciples in Damascus certain days,

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 was preaching the Christ, 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 A nd all those hearing were amazed, and said, `Is not this he who laid waist in Jerusalem those calling on this name, and hither to this intent had come, that he might bring them bound to 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 A nd Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in 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 A nd when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him,

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

24 a nd their counsel against was known to Saul; they were also watching the gates both day and night, that they may kill him,

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

25 a nd the disciples having taken him, by night did let him down by the wall, letting down 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 Saul, having come to Jerusalem, did try to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is 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 a nd Barnabas having taken him, brought unto the apostles, and did declare to them how in the way he saw the Lord, and that he spake to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly 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 in Jerusalem,

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

29 a nd speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill 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 the brethren having known, brought him down to Cesarea, 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, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and, going on in the fear of the Lord, and in 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 A nd it came to pass that Peter passing throughout all, came down also unto the saints who were dwelling 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 he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name -- for eight years laid upon a couch -- who was paralytic,

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, heal thee doth Jesus the Christ; arise and spread for thyself;' and immediately he rose,

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 those dwelling at Lydda, and Saron saw him, and did turn 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 A nd in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, (which interpreted, is called Dorcas,) this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;

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 she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, 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 Lydda being nigh to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that, sent two men unto him, calling on him not to delay to come through unto 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 A nd Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making 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 A nd Peter having put them all forth without, having bowed the knees, did pray, and having turned unto the body said, `Tabitha, arise;' and she opened her eyes, and having seen 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 having given her hand, he lifted her up, and having called the saints and the 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 became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on 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 remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, Simon a tanner.

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