The Road to Damascus (Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)
1 DBY But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest BSB BSB: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
2 DBY and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 DBY But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven, BSB BSB: As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 DBY and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? BSB BSB: He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 DBY And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said , I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. BSB BSB: “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
6 DBY But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. BSB BSB: “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 DBY But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one. BSB BSB: The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
8 DBY And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus. BSB BSB: Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 DBY And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank. BSB BSB: For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
Ananias Baptizes Saul 10 DBY And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. BSB BSB: In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
11 DBY And the Lord said to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, he is of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying, BSB BSB: “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12 DBY and has seen in a vision a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see. BSB BSB: In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 DBY And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; BSB BSB: But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 DBY and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name. BSB BSB: And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
15 DBY And the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel: BSB BSB: “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
16 DBY for I will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name. BSB BSB: I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
17 DBY And Ananias went and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou camest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 DBY And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised; BSB BSB: At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,
19 DBY and, having received food, got strength. And he was with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days. BSB BSB: and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Saul Preaches at Damascus 20 DBY And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God. BSB BSB: Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
21 DBY And all who heard were astonished and said, Is not this he who destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name, and here was come for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? BSB BSB: All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22 DBY But Saul increased the more in power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. BSB BSB: But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
The Escape from Damascus 23 DBY Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to kill him. BSB BSB: After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24 DBY But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched also the gates both day and night, that they might kill him; BSB BSB: but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
25 DBY but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. BSB BSB: One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.
Saul in Jerusalem 26 DBY And having arrived at Jerusalem he essayed to join himself to the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. BSB BSB: When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27 DBY But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. BSB BSB: Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
28 DBY And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, BSB BSB: So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29 DBY and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. BSB BSB: He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
30 DBY And the brethren knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. BSB BSB: When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
The Healing of Aeneas 31 DBY The assemblies then throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
32 DBY Now it came to pass that Peter, passing through all quarters , descended also to the saints who inhabited Lydda. BSB BSB: As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
33 DBY And he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name, who had been lying for eight years upon a couch, who was paralysed. BSB BSB: There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 DBY And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus, the Christ, heals thee: rise up, and make thy couch for thyself. And straightway he rose up. BSB BSB: “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
35 DBY And all who inhabited Lydda and the Saron saw him, who turned to the Lord. BSB BSB: and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
The Raising of Tabitha (John 11:38–44)
36 DBY And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which being interpreted means Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did. BSB BSB: In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
37 DBY And it came to pass in those days that she grew sick and died; and, having washed her, they put her in the upper room. BSB BSB: At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
38 DBY But Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, beseeching him, Thou must not delay coming to us. BSB BSB: Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”
39 DBY And Peter rising up went with them, whom, when arrived, they brought up into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping and shewing him the body-coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. BSB BSB: So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 DBY But Peter, putting them all out, and kneeling down, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. BSB BSB: Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
41 DBY And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows, presented her living. BSB BSB: Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
42 DBY And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. BSB BSB: This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43 DBY And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner. BSB BSB: And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.