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.

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.

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

But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.

“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem.

What if some people fall away from the faith? It won’t be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit.They have tasted the good things of God’s word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come.But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won’t be possible to bring them back. They won’t be able to turn away from their sins. They are losing everything. That’s because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone.Some land drinks the rain that falls on it. It produces a crop that is useful to those who farm the land. That land receives God’s blessing.But other land produces only thorns and weeds. That land isn’t worth anything. It is in danger of coming under God’s curse. In the end, it will be burned.

Jesus said,“ I have come into this world to judge it. I have come so that people who are blind will see. I have come so that people who can see will become blind.”Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this. They asked,“ What? Are we blind too?”Jesus said,“ If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, you remain guilty.

“ My fellow Israelites, I know you didn’t realize what you were doing. Neither did your leaders.

You have heard how I lived earlier in my Jewish way of life. With all my strength I attacked the church of God. I tried to destroy it.

What if we keep sinning on purpose? What if we do it even after we know the truth? Then there is no offering for our sins.All we can do is to wait in fear for God to judge. His blazing fire will burn up his enemies.Suppose someone did not obey the law of Moses. And suppose two or three witnesses made charges against them. That person would die without mercy.People who deserve even more punishment include those who have hated the Son of God. They include people who have said no to him. They include people who have treated as unholy the blood of the covenant that makes them holy. They also include people who have disrespected the Holy Spirit who brings God’s grace. Don’t you think people like this should be punished more than anyone else?

I hurt the followers of the Way of Jesus. I sent many of them to their death. I arrested men and women. I threw them into prison.

“‘ But suppose someone sins on purpose. It does not matter whether they are an Israelite or an outsider. They speak evil things against the Lord. They must be separated from the community of Israel.

But for that very reason, God showed me mercy. And I am the worst of sinners. He showed me mercy so that Christ Jesus could show that he is very patient. I was an example for those who would come to believe in him. Then they would receive eternal life.

At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you.

Jesus said,“ Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God’s grace increased even more.Sin ruled and brought death. But grace rules in the lives of those who are right with God. The grace of God brings eternal life. That’s because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.

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

So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

“ I believed that I should oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. So I did everything I could to oppose his name.That’s just what I was doing in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord’s people in prison. I agreed that they should die.I often went from one synagogue to another to have them punished. I tried to force them to speak evil things against Jesus. All I wanted to do was hurt them. I even went looking for them in the cities of other lands.

I will plant her in the land for myself. I will show my love to the one I called Not My Loved One. I will say,‘ You are my people’ to those who were called Not My People. And they will say,‘ You are my God.’ ”

Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest.

As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

“ Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating.

Suppose they had not known the way of godliness. This would have been better than to know godliness and then turn away from it. The way of godliness is the sacred command passed on to them.What the proverbs say about them is true.“ A dog returns to where it has thrown up.”( Proverbs 26:11) And,“ A pig that is washed goes back to rolling in the mud.”

Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord’s mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.

I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church.

Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.