Official Translation
Reading 1 – Acts 22.3-16
Paul spoke to the people in these words:
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers,
being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prison.
As even the high priest and all the council of the elders testify,
from whom even I received letters to the brothers,
and traveled to Damascus to bring in bondage those also who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon,
suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
I replied, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid,
but they did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
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.’
Since I could not see for the glory of that light,
I came into Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me.
One Ananias, a devout man according to the law,
highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’
In that very hour I looked up at him.
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.
For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”
Or Acts 9.1-22
Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus,
that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women,
he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
As he traveled, as he got close to Damascus,
suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
He fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
He said, “Who are you, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing.
They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias.
The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
He said, “Behold, it is I, Lord.”
The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street called Straight,
and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus.
For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen
a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him,
that he might receive his sight.”
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man,
how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel
to bear my name before nations and kings and the children of Israel.
For I will show him how many things he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Ananias departed and entered into the house.
Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me,
Jesus, who appeared to you on the way which you came,
that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight.
He arose and was baptized.
He took food and was strengthened.
Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
All who heard him were amazed, and said,
“Is this not he who in Jerusalem harmed those who called on this name?
And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.
Responsorial – Psalm 117.1bc, 2 Resp. Mark 16.15
R. Go to all the world and preach the Gospel. or R. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
R. Go to all the world and preach the Gospel. or R. Alleluia! Alleluia!
For his loving kindness is great toward us.
The Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.
R. Go to all the world and preach the Gospel. or R. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel – Mark 16.15-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to the whole creation.
The one who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but the one who disbelieves will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will cast out demons;
they will speak with new languages;
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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