The Road to Damascus (Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)
1 UEB But Saul, still speaking threats even of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went 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 UEB and asked him for letters for the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, whether men or 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 UEB As he was traveling, it happened that as he came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone all around 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 UEB and he fell upon the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" BSB BSB: He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 UEB Saul replied, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting; BSB BSB: “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
6 UEB but rise, enter into the city, and it will be told you what you must do." BSB BSB: “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 UEB The men who traveled with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. BSB BSB: The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
8 UEB Saul arose from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and 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 UEB For three days he was without sight, and he 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 UEB Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He said, "See, I am here, 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 UEB The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 UEB He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, so that he might see again." BSB BSB: In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 UEB But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your holy people in 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 UEB He has authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone here who calls upon your name." BSB BSB: And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
15 UEB But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children 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 UEB for I will show him how much he must suffer for the cause of my name." BSB BSB: I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
17 UEB So Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road when you were coming, has sent me so that you might receive your sight 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 UEB Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he received his sight; he arose and was baptized; 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 UEB and he ate and was strengthened. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several 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 UEB Right away he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying 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 UEB All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name? He has come here to take 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 UEB But Saul became more and more powerful, and he was causing distress among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus 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 UEB After many days, the Jews planned together to kill him. BSB BSB: After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24 UEB But their plan became known to Saul. They watched the gates day and night in order to kill him. BSB BSB: but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
25 UEB But his 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 UEB When he had come to Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all 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 UEB But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul 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 UEB He met with them as they were coming in and going out of Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus BSB BSB: So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29 UEB and debated with the Grecian Jews; but they kept trying to kill him. BSB BSB: He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
30 UEB When the brothers learned of this, they 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 UEB So then, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church grew in numbers. 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 UEB Now it came about that, as Peter went throughout the whole region, he came down also to the believers who lived in the town of Lydda. BSB BSB: As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
33 UEB There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been in his bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. BSB BSB: There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 UEB Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and right away he got up. BSB BSB: “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
35 UEB So everyone who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw the man and they 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 UEB Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated as "Dorcas." This woman was full of good works and merciful deeds that she did for the poor. 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 UEB It came about in those days that she fell sick and died; when they had washed her, they laid her in an 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 UEB Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, begging him, "Come to us without delay." 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 UEB Peter arose and went with them. When he had arrived, they brought him to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him weeping, showing him the coats and garments that Dorcas had made while she had been 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 UEB Peter put them all out of the room, knelt down, and prayed; then, turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she 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 UEB Peter then gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he called the believers and the widows, he presented her alive to them. 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 UEB This matter became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed on the Lord. BSB BSB: This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43 UEB It happened that Peter stayed for many days in Joppa with a man named 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.