January 25, 2013
We hope that today is a good day.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php
Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/
We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.
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+ Saints: Conversion of St. Paul
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+ First Reading: Acts 22:3-16
3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'
9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.'
11 When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him.
14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
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+ Psalm: Psalms 117:1bc, 2
1 (Praise Yahweh,) all you nations!
Extol him, (all you peoples! )
2 For his loving kindness is great toward us.
Yahweh's faithfulness endures forever.
Praise Yah!
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+ Gospel: Mark 16:15-18
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
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+ Today's Reading: Galatians 1:11-24
11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.
14 I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,
16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19 But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord's brother.
20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold,†"Behold", from "?δο?", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. before God, I'm not lying.
21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23 but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy."
24 And they glorified God in me.
†1:20: "Behold", from "?δο?", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
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