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Common English Bible CEB
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
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Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest,
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
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seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
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During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him.
4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ”
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He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, "Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?"
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord? ” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
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Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" "I am Jesus, whom you are harassing," came the reply.
6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. ”
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"Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do."
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
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Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one.
8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
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After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn't see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
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For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias. ”And he said, “Here I am, Lord. ”
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In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Yes, Lord."
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
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The Lord instructed him, "Go to Judas' house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying.
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. ”
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In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
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Ananias countered, "Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. ”
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He's here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name."
15 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.
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The Lord replied, "Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. ”
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I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. ”
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Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
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Instantly, flakes fell from Saul's eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
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After eating, he regained his strength. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God. ”
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Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. "He is God's Son," he declared.
21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? ”
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Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, "Isn't he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn't he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
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But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
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After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul.
24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
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However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him.
25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
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But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
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When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn't believe he was really a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
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Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
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After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord.
29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.
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He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him.
30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
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When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
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Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers.
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
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As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God's holy people in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
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There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed. ” And immediately he rose.
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Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed." At once he got up.
35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
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Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
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In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need.
37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
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About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay. ”
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Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, "Please come right away!"
39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
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Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive.
40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise. ” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
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Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
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He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called God's holy people, including the widows, and presented her alive to them.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
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The news spread throughout Joppa, and many put their faith in the Lord.
43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
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Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with a certain tanner named Simon.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible