even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,

我从前是亵渎神的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的；然而我还蒙了怜悯，因我是不信不明白的时候而做的。

我从前是亵渎、迫害、侮慢上帝的人；然而我还蒙了怜悯，因为我是在不信、不明白的时候做的。

我从前是亵渎、迫害、侮慢神的人；然而我还蒙了怜悯，因为我是在不信、不明白的时候做的。

尽管我从前是个亵渎上帝、迫害和侮辱信徒的人，但我仍然蒙了怜悯，因为那时我无知，还没有信耶稣。

我从前是亵渎神的、迫害人的、凌辱人的，然而我还蒙了怜悯，因为我是在不信的时候，由于无知而作的。

虽然我原先是亵渎神的、逼迫人的、侮慢人的，但是我却蒙了怜悯，因为我是在不信、不明白的时候做的；

我從前是褻瀆神的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的；然而我還蒙了憐憫，因我是不信不明白的時候而做的。

我從前是褻瀆、迫害、侮慢上帝的人；然而我還蒙了憐憫，因為我是在不信、不明白的時候做的。

我從前是褻瀆、迫害、侮慢神的人；然而我還蒙了憐憫，因為我是在不信、不明白的時候做的。

儘管我從前是個褻瀆上帝、迫害和侮辱信徒的人，但我仍然蒙了憐憫，因為那時我無知，還沒有信耶穌。

我從前是褻瀆神的、迫害人的、凌辱人的，然而我還蒙了憐憫，因為我是在不信的時候，由於無知而作的。

雖則我先前是謗讟、逼迫、損害者。然而我蒙了憐憫，因為我是在不信中愚蒙而作的，

雖然我原先是褻瀆神的、逼迫人的、侮慢人的，但是我卻蒙了憐憫，因為我是在不信、不明白的時候做的；

昔我為謗讟窘逐狎侮者、但我所行、乃由不知不信、故蒙矜恤、

昔我嘗謗讟、窘逐、狎侮之、第此妄作、乃由不知不信而然、故猶蒙矜恤、

我昔為毀謗者、窘逐者、侮慢者、但此因在不信之時、無知而作、故猶蒙矜恤、

我本為褻瀆天主、摧殘教會、倨傲無禮之人、而竟蒙天主之矜憐者、蓋以我當時未有信德、盲目而行耳。

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway. I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.

though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did[ it] ignorantly in unbelief.

even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.

For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit,who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.

Jesus said,“ I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him,“ We aren’t blind too, are we?”“ If you were blind,” Jesus told them,“ you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say,‘ We see,’ your sin remains.

“ And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.

For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail,

“ But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or resident alien, blasphemes the LORD. That person is to be cut off from his people.

But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.

Then Jesus said,“ Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.

The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even moreso that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“ Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.“ I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

I will sow her in the land for myself, and I will have compassion on Lo-ruhamah; I will say to Lo-ammi: You are my people, and he will say,“ You are my God.”

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest

regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and,“ A washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.”

Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is faithful.

For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.