The Conversion of St. Paul
Feast Day: January 25

Eucharistic Readings

Acts 26:9-21
Psalm 67
Galatians 1:11-24
Matthew 10:16-22

Daily Office

Morning Prayer: Psalm 19; Isaiah 45:18-25; Philippians 3:-4b-11
Evening Prayer: Psalm 119:89-112; Ecclesiastus 39:1-10; Acts 9:1-22

Collect:
O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.


Eucharistic Readings

Acts 26:9-21

 ‘Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

 ‘With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.” I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

 ‘After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

Psalm 67

1
May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
     show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
2
Let your ways be known upon earth, *
     your saving health among all nations.
3
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
     let all the peoples praise you.
4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
     for you judge the peoples with equity
     and guide all the nations upon earth.
5
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
     let all the peoples praise you.
6
The earth has brought forth her increase; *
     may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7
May God give us his blessing, *
     and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.


Galatians 1:11-24

For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me.

Matthew 10:16-22

‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.


Morning Prayer

Psalm 19

1
The heavens declare the glory of God, *
     and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2
One day tells its tale to another, *
     and one night imparts knowledge to another.
3
Although they have no words or language, *
     and their voices are not heard,
4
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
     and their message to the ends of the world.
5
In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
     it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
     it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
     nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
7
The law of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul; *
     the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom to
                                the innocent.
8
The statutes of the LORD are just and rejoice the heart; *
     the commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light to
                                the eyes.
9
The fear of the LORD is clean and endures for ever; *
     the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
     sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
11
By them also is your servant enlightened, *
     and in keeping them there is great reward.
12
Who can tell how often he offends? *
     cleanse me from my secret faults.
13
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
     then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
                                in your sight, *
     O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

Isaiah 45:18-25


For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens
   (he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
   (he established it;
he did not create it a chaos,
   he formed it to be inhabited!):
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I did not speak in secret,
   in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
   ‘Seek me in chaos.’
I the Lord speak the truth,
   I declare what is right.

Assemble yourselves and come together,
   draw near, you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge—
   those who carry about their wooden idols,
and keep on praying to a god
   that cannot save.
Declare and present your case;
   let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
   Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
   There is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Saviour;
   there is no one besides me.

Turn to me and be saved,
   all the ends of the earth!
   For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
   from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
   a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
   every tongue shall swear.’

Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
   are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
   shall come to him and be ashamed.
In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
   shall triumph and glory.

Philippians 3:4b-11

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.


Evening Prayer

Psalm 119:89-112

89
O LORD, your word is everlasting; *
     it stands firm in the heavens.
90
Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
     you established the earth, and it abides.
91
By your decree these continue to this day, *
     for all things are your servants.
92
If my delight had not been in your law, *
     I should have perished in my affliction.
93
I will never forget your commandments, *
     because by them you give me life.
94
I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
     for I study your commandments.
95
Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
     I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96
I see that all things come to an end, *
     but your commandment has no bounds.
97
Oh, how I love your law! *
     all the day long it is in my mind.
98
Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *
     and it is always with me.
99
I have more understanding than all my teachers, *
     for your decrees are my study.
100
I am wiser than the elders, *
     because I observe your commandments.
101
I restrain my feet from every evil way, *
     that I may keep your word.
102
I do not shrink from your judgments, *
     because you yourself have taught me.
103
How sweet are your words to my taste! *
     they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104
Through your commandments I gain understanding; *
     therefore I hate every lying way.
     
105
Your word is a lantern to my feet *
     and a light upon my path.
106
I have sworn and am determined *
     to keep your righteous judgments.
107
I am deeply troubled; *
     preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108
Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, *
     and teach me your judgments.
109
My life is always in my hand, *
     yet I do not forget your law.
110
The wicked have set a trap for me, *
     but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111
Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
     truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112
I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
     for ever and to the end.

Ecclesiasticus 39:1-10

The one who devotes himself to the study
   of the law of the Most High
seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,
   and is concerned with prophecies;
he preserves the sayings of the famous
   and penetrates the subtleties of parables;
he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs
   and is at home with the obscurities of parables.
He serves among the great
   and appears before rulers;
he travels in foreign lands
   and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.
He sets his heart on rising early
   to seek the Lord who made him,
   and to petition the Most High;
he opens his mouth in prayer
   and asks pardon for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing,
   he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own
   and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge,
   as he meditates on his mysteries.
He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,
   and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
Many will praise his understanding;
   it will never be blotted out.
His memory will not disappear,
   and his name will live through all generations.
Nations will speak of his wisdom,
   and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

Acts 9:1-22

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.


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