FIRST
READING: Acts 22:
3 - 16 OR
Acts 9:
1 - 22
3
And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up
in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth
of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are
this day:
4
Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into
prisons both men and women.
5
As the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the ancients: from
whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that
I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.
6
And it came to pass, as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at
midday, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great
light:
7
And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me?
8
And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of
Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9
And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, but they heard not
the voice of him that spoke with me.
10
And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise,
and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things
that thou must do.
11
And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led
by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus.
12
And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all
the Jews who dwelt there,
13
Coming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up.
And I the same hour looked upon him.
14
But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou
shouldst know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldst hear the
voice from his mouth.
15
For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things which thou
hast seen and heard.
16
And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away
thy sins, invoking his name.
OR
1
And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high 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.
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.
4
And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou 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.
6
And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me
to 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.
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.
9
And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat
nor 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.
11
And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is
called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of
Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.
12
(And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon
him, that he might receive 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.
14
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that
invoke thy name.
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.
16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's
sake.
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.
18
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he
received his sight; and rising up, he 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.
20
And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is 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?
22
But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who
dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
PSALM:
Psalms 117:
1 - 2
1
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2
For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord
remaineth for ever.
GOSPEL:
Mark 16:
15 - 18
15
And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.
16
He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that
believeth not shall be condemned.
17
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall
cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.
18
They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the
sick, and they shall recover.
