September 11, 2014
Paul’s Defense
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 22, 1 – 21:
Paul said to the Jews in Jerusalem, “My brothers and fathers, listen to what I am about to say to you in my defense.” When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew they became all the more quiet. And Paul continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well.
On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you sir? ‘ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ My companion saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and stood there and said, “Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’
After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry, leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me. But I replied, ‘Lord, they themselves know that from synagogue to synagogue I used to imprison and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself stood by giving my approval and keeping guard over the cloak of his murderers.’ Then he said to me, ‘God, I shall send you far away to the Gentiles.’
I wish to thank all those who have sent me money to pay the debt to the Provincial Government. I have not yet received half of the money but some have been generous sending me $100, others $200 and even one $500. I am praying for you that the Lord bless you for your generosity. I know others will send some more money in the near future.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Come with Me My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters and listen to the speech Saint Paul gave in Jerusalem. He had been arrested by the guard and as they arrived in the guard’s compound, Saint Paul asked the commander if he could speak to the Jews outside. The commander said yes and Paul went out and talked to the people there. He told them about the great happening when he was on his way to Damascus to arrest My followers. A bright light shone around him and he fell to the ground. He heard My voice when I said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you prosecuting me?’ By the mere fact that he was persecuting My followers, he was persecuting Me. I indentified Myself with everyone of My followers. I told Paul who I was and I told him to go to Damascus and he would be told what to do. While he was in Damascus a devout Jew came to visit Paul sent by Me. He restored his sight and this man told Paul that he will be My witness before all people. Then he told Paul to be baptized in order to wash away all his sins. Paul agreed and he was baptized. Then Saint Paul returned to Jerusalem and while he was in the temple he had a vision of Me and I told him to leave Jerusalem at once. I sent him to go and preached to the Gentiles. You know that Saint Paul did what I told him and he worked very well among the Gentiles in Asia and Europe. Saint Paul is indeed a great saint who worked hard to build My Church. You are now part of My Church and continue to call people to enter and be saved. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. I thank the Lord for another beautiful sunny day today Wednesday. The Lord is blessing us every day with such great weather. I thank the Lord.