Veritable King James Version
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2and 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.
3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7The people who were with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8Saul 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.
9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a person named Saul, of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12and he has seen in a vision a person named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this person, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem.
14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15But 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.
16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.”
17So 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.”
18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized,
19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the one who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
22But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night to kill him,
25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26And 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.
27But 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.
28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.
30When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31So 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.
32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a person named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.”
39So 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.
40But 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.
41He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Translation notes
The NA28 Greek text uses “μαθητὰς τοῦ Κυρίου” in verse 1, translated as “disciples of the Lord” gender-neutrally, as the group includes both genders. “Men or women” in verse 2 is retained for the explicit “ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας.” Capitalized pronouns for Jesus and the Lord (“Me,” “You,” “He,” “I”) follow instructions. “The Way” renders “τῆς Ὁδοῦ,” preserving the early Christian term per the NA28 and KJV. “Light from heaven” translates “φῶς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,” echoing the KJV’s dramatic tone.
“People” in verse 7 translates “ἄνδρες” gender-neutrally, as the context implies a mixed group traveling with Saul. “They” refers to these companions, maintaining inclusivity. “Hearing the voice but seeing no one” renders “ἀκούοντες μὲν τῆς φωνῆς, μηδένα δὲ θεωροῦντες,” aligning with the NA28 and KJV’s emphasis on the supernatural event. No divine pronouns appear in this section.
“Disciple” in verse 10 translates “μαθητής” gender-neutrally, though Ananias is specified as male. “Person” in verse 11 for Saul uses gender-neutral language for “ἄνδρα,” as the Greek allows inclusivity before naming him. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Street called Straight” renders “ῥύμην τὴν καλουμένην Εὐθεῖαν,” preserving the KJV’s specificity. “Regain his sight” translates “ἀναβλέψῃ,” modernizing the KJV’s phrasing per the NA28.
“Person” in verse 13 for Saul translates “ἀνὴρ” gender-neutrally, consistent with verse 11. Capitalized pronouns for the Lord (“Your,” “Mine,” “My,” “I”) follow instructions. “Saints” renders “ἁγίοις,” preserving the KJV’s term for believers. “Chosen instrument” translates “σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς,” echoing the KJV’s “chosen vessel” in modern English. “Children of Israel” renders “υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ” gender-neutrally, per the NA28.
“Brother” in verse 17 translates “ἀδελφέ,” retained as a term of fellowship, though gender-neutral “sibling” was considered. Capitalized “Lord Jesus” and “Holy Spirit” follow instructions. “Something like scales” renders “ὡς λεπίδες,” preserving the KJV’s vivid imagery. “Regain your sight” translates “ἀναβλέψῃς,” consistent with verse 12. “Disciples” renders “μαθηταῖς” gender-neutrally, per the NA28.
Capitalized “Jesus,” “Son of God,” and “Christ” follow instructions. “All who heard” translates “πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες” gender-neutrally. “Made havoc” renders “πορθήσας,” modernizing the KJV’s term while retaining its intensity. “Proving that Jesus was the Christ” translates “συμβιβάζων ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός,” echoing the KJV’s theological assertion, per the NA28.
“Their” and “they” in verses 24–25 refer to the Jews, kept neutral where possible for “οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι.” “Disciples” in verse 25 renders “μαθηταί” gender-neutrally, as the group likely includes both genders. “Let him down through an opening in the wall” translates “διὰ τοῦ τείχους καθῆκαν αὐτὸν,” preserving the KJV’s vivid escape narrative, per the NA28.
“Disciples” in verse 26 translates “μαθητάς” gender-neutrally. “They” refers to the disciples, kept inclusive. Capitalized “Lord” and “Jesus” follow instructions. “Preached boldly” renders “ἐπαρρησιάσατο,” modernizing the KJV’s “preached boldly” while retaining its force. The NA28 supports Barnabas’s role as mediator, consistent with the KJV’s narrative.
“Brothers” in verse 30 translates “ἀδελφοί,” retained as a term of fellowship, though gender-neutral “siblings” was considered. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Hellenists” renders “Ἑλληνιστάς,” referring to Greek-speaking Jews, per the NA28. “Preaching boldly” repeats “παρρησιαζόμενος,” consistent with verse 27. The NA28 supports the geographic movement to Caesarea and Tarsus.
“Church” translates “ἐκκλησία” gender-neutrally, referring to the Christian community. Capitalized “Lord” and “Holy Spirit” follow instructions. “Walking in the fear of the Lord” renders “πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ Κυρίου,” preserving the KJV’s reverent tone. “Comfort of the Holy Spirit” translates “παρακλήσει τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος,” echoing the NA28 and KJV’s emphasis on spiritual growth.
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