Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
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Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord's disciples. He went to the chief priest
2 And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
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and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way [of Christ] and imprison them in Jerusalem.
3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.
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As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
4 And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
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He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"
5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
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Saul asked, "Who are you, sir?" The person replied, "I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting.
6 And he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
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Get up! Go into the city, and you'll be told what you should do."
7 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man.
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Meanwhile, the men traveling with him were speechless. They heard the voice but didn't see anyone.
8 And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.
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Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his companions led him into Damascus.
9 And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat nor drink.
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For three days he couldn't see and didn't eat or drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias, And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.
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A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" Ananias answered, "Yes, Lord."
11 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.
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The Lord told him, "Get up! Go to Judas' house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He's praying.
12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)
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In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.
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Ananias replied, "Lord, I've heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem.
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.
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Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison."
15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
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The Lord told Ananias, "Go! I've chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel.
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
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I'll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name."
17 And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
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Ananias left and entered Judas' house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized.
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Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized.
19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.
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After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him. Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days.
20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the son of God.
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He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.
21 And all that heard him were astonished and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?
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Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, "Isn't this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn't he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests [in Jerusalem]?"
22 But Saul increased much more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
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Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.
23 And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him.
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Later the Jews planned to murder Saul,
24 But their lying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night, that they might kill him.
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but Saul was told about their plot. They were watching the city gates day and night in order to murder him.
25 But the disciples, taking him in the night, conveyed him away by the wall, letting him down in a basket.
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However, Saul's disciples lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall one night.
26 And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples: and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
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After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him. They wouldn't believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him: and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus.
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Then Barnabas took an interest in Saul and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul had spoken about the one named Jesus in the city of Damascus.
28 And he was with them, coming in and going out in Jerusalem and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord.
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Then Saul went throughout Jerusalem with the disciples. He spoke boldly with the power and authority of the Lord.
29 He spoke also to the Gentiles and disputed with the Greeks. But they sought to kill him.
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He talked and argued with Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.
30 Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
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As soon as the disciples found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
31 Now, the church had peace throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria: and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord: and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.
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Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 And it came to pass that Peter, as he passed through, visiting all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.
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When Peter was going around to all of God's people, he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda.
33 And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed for eight years, who was ill of the palsy.
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In Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and confined to a cot for eight years.
34 And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord Jesus Christ healeth thee. Arise and make thy bed. And immediately he arose.
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Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and pick up your cot." Aeneas immediately got up.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him: who were converted to the Lord.
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Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.
36 And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
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A disciple named Tabitha lived in the city of Joppa. Her Greek name was Dorcas. She always helped people and gave things to 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.
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She became sick and died. Her body was prepared for burial and was laid in an upstairs room.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppe, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not be slack to come unto them.
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Lydda is near the city of Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him. They begged Peter, "Hurry to Joppa! We need your help!"
39 And Peter rising up went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him, weeping and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them.
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So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 And they all being put forth, Peter, kneeling down, prayed. And turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, sat up.
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Peter made everyone leave the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, "Tabitha, get up!" Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
41 And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.
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Peter took her hand and helped her stand up. After he called the believers, especially the widows, he presented Tabitha to them. She was alive.
42 And it was made known throughout all Joppe. And many believed in the Lord.
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The news about this spread throughout the city of Joppa, and as a result, many people believed in the Lord.
43 And it cane to pass that he abode many days in Joppe, with one Simon a tanner.
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Peter stayed in Joppa for a number of days with Simon, a leatherworker.
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