⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(A)

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(B) but did not see anyone.^{(C) 8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(D) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(E) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(F) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(G) him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(H) in Jerusalem.^{(I) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(J) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(K)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(L) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(M) and their kings^(N) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(O)

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(P) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, 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.”^{(Q) 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^{(R) 19} and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(S) in Damascus.^{(T) 20} At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(U) that Jesus is the Son of God.^{(V) 21} All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?^(W) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^{(X) 22} Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(Y)

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,^{(Z) 24} but Saul learned of their plan.^(AA) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.^(AB)

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem,^(AC) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas^(AD) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,^(AE) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.^{(AF) 28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a](AG) but they tried to kill him.^{(AH) 30} When the believers^(AI) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea^(AJ) and sent him off to Tarsus.^(AK)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(AL) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(AM)

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(B) spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus^(C) and Cyrene,^(D) went to Antioch^(E) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news^(F) about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them,^(G) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.^(H)

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas^(I) to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(J) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^{(K) 24} He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(L) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.^(M)

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(N) to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(O) were called Christians first^(P) at Antioch.

13 ¹ Now in the church at Antioch^(A) there were prophets^(B) and teachers:^(C) Barnabas,^(D) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,^(E) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod^(F) the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(G) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(H) to which I have called them.”^{(I) 3} So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(J) and sent them off.^(K)

¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(A) and called me^(B) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(C) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(D) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(E)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(F) I went up to Jerusalem^(G) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(H) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(I) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(J)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(K) and Cilicia.^{(L) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(M) that are in Christ.^{(N) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(O) he once tried to destroy.”^{(P) 24} And they praised God^(Q) because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,^(R) this time with Barnabas.^(S) I took Titus^(T) along also. ² I went in response to a revelation^(U) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.^(V) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race^(W) in vain.