Acts, 9

1. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

1. Meanwhile Saul considered nothing but violence and death for the disciples of the Lord.

2. And desired of him 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.

2. He went to the High Priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus that would authorize him to arrest and bring to Jerusalem anyone he might find, man or woman, belonging to the Way.

3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

3. As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.

4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

4. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?"

5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

5. And he asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice replied, "I am Jesus whom you persecute.

6. And 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 thou must do.

6. Now get up and go into the city; there you will be told what you are to do."

7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

7. The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless: they had heard the sound, but could see no one.

8. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.

8. Saul got up from the ground and, opening his eyes, he could not see. They took him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

9. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

9. He was blind and he did not eat or drink for three days.

10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.

10. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, to whom the Lord called in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord!"

11. And 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 prayeth,

11. Then the Lord said to him, "Go at once to Straight Street and ask, at the house of Judas, for a man of Tarsus named Saul. You will find him praying,

12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

12. for he has just seen in a vision that a man named Ananias has come in and placed his hands upon him, to restore his sight."

13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

13. Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,

14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

14. and now he is here with authority from the High Priest to arrest all who call upon your name."

15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

15. But the Lord said to him, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name to the pagan nations and their kings, and the people of Israel as well.

16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

16. I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer for my name."

17. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

17. So Ananias left and went to the house. He laid his hands upon Saul and said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me to you so that you may receive your sight and be filled with Holy Spirit."

18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

18. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he could see; he got up and was baptized.

19. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

19. Then he took food and was strengthened. For several days Saul stayed with the disciples at Damascus,

20. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

20. and he soon began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.

21. But all that heard [him] were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

21. All who heard were astonished and said, "Is this not the one who cast out in Jerusalem all those calling upon this Name? Did he not come here to bring them bound before the chief priests?"

22. But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

22. But Saul grew more and more powerful, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus when he proved that Jesus was the Messiah.

23. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

23. After a fairly long time, the Jews conspired together to kill him.

24. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

24. But Saul became aware of their plan: Day and night they kept watch at the city gate in order to kill him.

25. Then the disciples took him by night, and let [him] down by the wall in a basket.

25. So his disciples took him one night and let him down from the top of the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

26. When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples there, but they were afraid of him because they could not believe that he was a disciple.

27. But 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.

27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He recounted to them how Saul had seen the Lord on his way and the words the Lord had spoken to him. He told them also how Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

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

28. Then Saul began to live with them. He moved about freely in Jerusalem and preached openly in the name of the Lord.

29. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

29. He also spoke to the Hellenists and argued with them, but they wanted to kill him.

30. [Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

30. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

31. Meanwhile, the Church had peace. It was building up throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria with eyes turned to the Lord and filled with comfort from the Holy Spirit.

32. And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

32. As Peter traveled around, he went to visit the saints who lived in Lydda.

33. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

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

34. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

34. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" And the man got up at once.

35. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

35. All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

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 almsdeeds which she did.

36. There was a disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which means Dorcas or Gazelle. She was always doing good works and helping the poor.

37. And 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.

37. At that time she fell sick and died. After having washed her body, they laid her in the upstairs room.

38. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring [him] that he would not delay to come to them.

38. As Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."

39. Then 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 shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

39. So Peter went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs to the room. All the widows crowded around him in tears, showing him the clothes which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

40. Peter made them all leave the room and then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body he said, "Tabitha, stand up." She opened her eyes, looked at Peter and sat up.

41. And he gave her [his] hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

41. Peter gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

42. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

42. This became known throughout all of Joppa and many people believed in the Lord because of it.

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

43. As for Peter, he remained for some time in Joppa at the house of Simon, a tanner of leather.