Léctio Actuum Apostolórum
Act 9:1-22
In diébus illis: Saulus adhuc spirans minárum et cædis in discípulos Dómini, accés sit ad príncipem sacerdótum, et pétiit ab eo epístolas in Damáscum ad synagógas: ut, si quos invenísset hujus viæ viros ac mulíeres, vinctos perdúceret in Jerúsalem. Et cum iter fáceret, cóntigit, ut appropinquáret Damásco: et súbito circumfúlsit eum lux de cœlo. Et cadens in terram, audívit vocem dicéntem sibi: Saule, Saule, quid me perséqueris? Qui dixit: Quis es, Dómine? Et ille: Ego sum Jesus, quem tu perséqueris: durum est tibi contra stímulum calcitráre. Et tremens ac stupens, dixit: Dómine, quid me vis fácere? Et Dóminus ad eum: Surge et ingrédere civitátem, et ibi dicétur tibi, quid te opórteat fácere. Viri autem illi, qui comitabántur cum eo, stabant stupefácti, audiéntes quidem vocem, néminem autem vidéntes. Surréxit autem Saulus de terra, apertísque óculis nihil vidébat. Ad manus autem illum trahéntes, introduxérunt Damáscum. Et erat ibi tribus diébus non videns, et non manducávit neque bibit. Erat autem quidam discípulus Damásci, nómine Ananías: et dixit ad illum in visu Dóminus: Ananía. At ille ait: Ecce ego, Dómine. Et Dóminus ad eum: Surge et vade in vicum, qui vocátur Rectus: et quære in domo Judæ Saulum nómine Tarsénsem: ecce enim orat. Et vidit virum, Ananíam nómine, intrœúntem et imponéntem sibi manus, ut visum recipiat. Respóndit autem Ananías: Dómine, audívi a multis de viro hoc, quanta mala fécerit sanctis tuis in Jerúsalem: et hic habet potestátem a princípibus sacerdótum alligándi omnes, qui ínvocant nomen tuum. Dixit autem ad eum Dóminus: Vade, quóniam vas electiónis est mihi iste, ut portet nomen meum coram géntibus et régibus et fíliis Israël. Ego enim osténdam illi, quanta opórteat eum pro nómine meo pati. Et ábiit Ananías et introívit in domum: et impónens ei manus, dixit: Saule frater, Dóminus misit me Jesus, qui appáruit tibi in via, qua veniébas, ut vídeas et impleáris Spíritu Sancto. Ei conféstim cecidérunt ab óculis ejus tamquam squamæ, et visum recépit: et surgens baptizátus est. Et cum accepísset cibum, confortátus est. Fuit autem cum discípulis, qui erant Damásci, per dies áliquot. Et contínuo in synagógis prædicábat Jesum, quóniam hic est Fílius Dei. Stupébant autem omnes, qui audiébant, et dicébant: Nonne hic est, qui expugnábat in Jerúsalem eos, qui invocábant nomen istud: et huc ad hoc venit, ut vinctos illos dúcere ad príncipes sacerdótum? Saulus autem multo magis convalescébat, et confundébat Judæos, qui habitábant Damásci, affírmans, quóniam hic est Christus.
Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 9:1-22
In those days, Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to this Way, he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad. And he, trembling and amazed, said, Lord, what will You have me do? And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do. Now the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the ground, but when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And for three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank. Now there was in Damascus a certain disciple named Ananias and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For behold, he is praying. And he saw a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands upon him that he might recover his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here too he has authority from the high priests to arrest all who invoke Your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen vessel to Me, to carry My name among nations and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name. So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands upon him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me - Jesus, Who appeared to you on your journey - that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And straightway there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he recovered his sight, and arose, and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Now for some days he joined the disciples in Damascus, and straightway in the synagogues he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he who used to make havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name, and who has come here for the purpose of taking them in bonds to the chief priests? But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who were living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.