I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand ¹  the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

Since I could not see because of ¹  the brilliance ²  of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of ³  those who were with me.

I replied, ¹  ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues ²  who believed in you.

Because I was at a loss ¹  how I could investigate these matters, ²  I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried ³  there on these charges. ⁴ 

But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, ¹  I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” ² 

Now all the Jews know the way I lived ¹  from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people ²  and in Jerusalem. ³ 

Because they were afraid ¹  that we would run aground on the rocky coast, ²  they threw out ³  four anchors from the stern and wished ⁴  for day to appear. ⁵ 

The local inhabitants ¹  showed us extraordinary ²  kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain ³  and was cold.

From there we cast off ¹  and arrived at Rhegium, ²  and after one day a south wind sprang up ³  and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ⁴ 

But Peter stood up ¹  with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea ²  and all you who live in Jerusalem, ³  know this ⁴  and listen carefully to what I say.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized ¹  in the name of Jesus Christ ²  for ³  the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ⁴ 

and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations ¹  at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement ²  at what had happened to him.

saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain ¹  to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign ²  has come about through them, ³  and we cannot deny it.

When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind ¹  and said, “Master of all, ²  you who made the heaven, the earth, ³  the sea, and everything that is in them,

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled ¹  your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of ²  the land?

and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. ¹  Then ²  they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

This is the man who was in the congregation ¹  in the wilderness ²  with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, ³  and he ⁴  received living oracles ⁵  to give to you. ⁶ 

Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ ¹  and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying,

Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius ¹  replied, ²  “What is it, Lord?” The angel ³  said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity ⁴  have gone up as a memorial ⁵  before God.