Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Acts, chapters 8 and 9. Chapter 8 Now Saul was
consenting to his death. At that time a great
persecution arose against the church, which was
at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout
the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the
apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his
burial. and made great lamentation over him.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering
every house and dragging off men and women, committing
them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered
went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip
went down to the city of Samaria and preached
Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord
heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and
seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean
spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of
many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed
and lame were healed. And there was great joy
in that city. But there was a certain man called
Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the
city, and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming
that he was someone great, to whom they all gave
heed from the least to the greatest, saying,
This man is the great power of God. And they
hated him because he had astonished them with
his sorceries for a long time. But when they
believed Philip as he preached the things concerning
the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,
both men and women were baptized. Then Simon
himself also believed. And when he was baptized,
he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing
the miracles and signs which were done. Now when
the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent
Peter and John to them, who when they had come
down, prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit. For as yet he had fallen upon
none of them. They had only been baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands
on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And
when Simon saw that through the laying on of
the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given,
He offered them money, saying, Give me this power
also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive
the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Your
money perish with you, because you thought that
the gift of God could be purchased with money.
You have neither part nor portion in this matter,
for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and
pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart
may be forgiven you. Then Simon answered and
said, Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
saying, A man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great
authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians,
who had charge of all her treasury and had come
to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting
in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
Then the spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake
this chariot. So Philip ran to him and heard
him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, Do you
understand what you are reading? And he said,
How can I unless someone guides me? And he asked
Philip to come up and sit with him. The place
in the scripture which he read was this. He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb
before its shearer is silent. So he opened not
his mouth. In his humiliation his justice was
taken away. And who will declare his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth. So the
eunuch answered Philip and said, I ask you, of
whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or
of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth,
and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus
to him. Now as they went down the road, they
came to some water. And the eunuch said, See,
here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?
Then Philip said, If you believe with all your
heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded
the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and
the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized
them. Now when they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away so
that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went
on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at
Azotus, and passing through he preached in all
the cities till he came to Caesarea. Chapter
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the
high priest and asked letters from him to the
synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any
who were of the way, whether men or women, he
might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed,
he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone
around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground
and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who
are you, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus,
whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you
to kick against the goads. So he, trembling and
astonished, said, Lord, what do you want me to
do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise, and go
into the city, and you will be told what you
must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood
speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no one.
Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his
eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led
him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and neither
ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple
at Damascus named Ananias. And to him the Lord
said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here
I am, Lord. So the Lord said to him, Arise and
go to the street called Straight and inquire
at the house of Judas for one called Saul of
Tarsus. For behold, he is praying. And in a vision
he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and
putting his hand on him so that he might receive
his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have
heard from many about this man, how much harm
he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And
here he has authority from the chief priests
to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord
said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of
mine, to bear my name before Gentiles, kings,
and the children of Israel. For I will show him
many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
And Ananias went his way and entered the house,
and laying his hands on him, he said, Brother
Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on
the road as you came, has sent me that you may
receive your sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes
something like scales, and he received his sight
at once, and he arose and was baptized. So when
he had received food, he was strengthened. Then
Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God. Then all who heard
were amazed and said, Is this not he who destroyed
those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and
has come here for that purpose, so that he might
bring them bound to the chief priests? But Saul
increased all the more in strength, and confounded
the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that
this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days
were passed, the Jews plotted to kill him. But
their plot became known to Saul, and they watched
the gates day and night to kill him. Then the
disciples took him by night and let him down
through the wall in a large basket. And when
Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join
the disciples, but they were all afraid of him
and did not believe that he was a disciple. But
Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles,
and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord
on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and
how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the
name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem,
coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly
in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against
the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
When the brethren found out, they brought him
down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee,
and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking
in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Now it
came to pass, as Peter went through all parts
of the country, that he also came down to the
saints who dwelt in Leda. There he found a certain
man named Agnes, who had been bedridden eight
years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him,
Agnes, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and
make your bed. And he arose immediately. So all
who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned
to the Lord. At Joppa there was a certain disciple
named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This
woman was full of good works and charitable deeds,
which she did. But it happened in those days
that she became sick and died. When they had
washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And
since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples
had heard that Peter was there, They sent two
men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming
to them. Then Peter arose and went with them.
When he had come, they brought him to the upper
room. And all the widows stood by him weeping,
showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas
had made while she was with them. But Peter put
them all out 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. Then he gave her his hand and lifted
her up, and when he had called the saints and
widows, he presented her alive. And it became
known throughout all Joppa, and many believed
on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days
in Joppa with Simon a tanner. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did, and I look
forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue
on our journey. God bless you and have a great
day.