The Road to Damascus (Acts 22:1–21; Acts 26:1–23)
1 ULT But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, going 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 ULT requested letters from him to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any being 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 ULT And as he was traveling, it happened that he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven surrounded him; BSB BSB: As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 ULT and, falling to the ground, he 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 ULT And he said,“Who are you, Lord?” And he{ 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 ULT but get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what thing it is necessary for you to do.” BSB BSB: “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 ULT But the men traveling with him 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 ULT And Saul rose up from the ground, but his eyes being opened, he was seeing nothing. 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 ULT And he was not seeing for three days, 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 ULT Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision,“Ananias!” And he said,“Behold, 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 ULT And the Lord{ said} to him,“Arising, go to the street called Straight, and in the house of Judas seek Saul by name, from 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 ULT and in a vision he has seen a man, Ananias by name, coming in and laying 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 ULT But Ananias answered,“Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he has done to your saints 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 ULT And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all the ones calling 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 ULT But the Lord said to him,“Go, for this is to me an instrument of choosing, to carry my name before the nations, and also 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 ULT for I will show him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for my name.” BSB BSB: I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
17 ULT And Ananias departed, and entered into the house. And having laid{ his} hands on him, he said,“Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me— Jesus, the one having appeared to you on the road on which you were going— so that you might see again 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 ULT And immediately{ something} like scales fell from his eyes, and he saw again, and rising up, he 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 ULT and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some 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 ULT And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that this is the Son of God. BSB BSB: Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
21 ULT And all the ones hearing were marveling and were saying,“Is not this the one having destroyed in Jerusalem the ones calling on this name? And he had come here for this, 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 ULT But Saul was becoming more powerful and stirring up the Jews living in Damascus, 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 ULT But when many days were filled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him. BSB BSB: After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24 ULT But their plot became known to Saul. But they were even watching the gates both 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 ULT But his disciples, taking him by night, 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 ULT And having come to Jerusalem, he was attempting to join the disciples, but they were all fearing 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 ULT But taking hold of him, Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how he had seen the Lord on the road 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 ULT And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. BSB BSB: So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29 ULT He was both speaking and debating with the Hellenists, but they were attempting to kill him. BSB BSB: He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
30 ULT But the brothers, having learned of this, 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 ULT Then the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria was having peace; being built up and journeying in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was multiplying. 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 ULT Now it happened that Peter, going throughout all, came down also to the saints inhabiting Lydda. BSB BSB: As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
33 ULT And there he found a certain man, Aeneas by name, lying on a mat for eight years, who was paralyzed. BSB BSB: There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 ULT And Peter said to him,“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed for yourself,” and immediately he arose. BSB BSB: “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
35 ULT And all the ones living in Lydda and in Sharon 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 ULT Now a certain disciple was in Joppa, Tabitha by name, which, being translated, is said“Dorcas.” She was full of good works and of almsgivings that she was doing. 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 ULT And it happened in those days that, having been sick, she died. And having 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 ULT And Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was in it, sent two men to him, urging him,“Do not delay to come 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 ULT So, arising, Peter went with them, whom, having arrived, they brought up to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing him coats and garments, as many as Dorcas used to make, being 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 ULT But Peter, having put them all out and having put down{ his} knees, prayed, and having turned 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 ULT And giving her{ his} hand, he raised her up and, calling the saints and the widows, he 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 ULT And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. BSB BSB: This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43 ULT Now it happened that he stayed 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.