As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed {them} to prison.

For {it is} impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Which in time past {were} not a people, but {are} now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known {it}, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did {it}, as {did} also your rulers.

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

But the soul that doeth {ought} presumptuously, {whether he be} born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. {presumptuously: Heb. with an high hand}

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: {it is} hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

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

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to {them which were} not my people, Thou {art} my people; and they shall say, {Thou art} my God.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not {himself}, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many {stripes}.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: {believed: or, obeyed}

But go ye and learn what {that} meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few {stripes}. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

This {is} a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Blessed {are} the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy {against} the {Holy} Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Wherefore I abhor {myself}, and repent in dust and ashes.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed {them} to prison.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

Which in time past {were} not a people, but {are} now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: {it is} hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the {world} to come.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, {for} the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell {among them}. {for men: Heb. in the man}

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and {I know} the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but {are} the synagogue of Satan.

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {which...: Gr. whereto ye were delivered}

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Whether of them twain did the will of {his} father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. {come...: Heb. know understanding}

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did {it}, as {did} also your rulers.

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? {blaspheme: or, revile, or, slander}

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, {and} all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name {of the LORD}, shall be put to death.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And not as {it was} by one that sinned, {so is} the gift: for the judgment {was} by one to condemnation, but the free gift {is} of many offences unto justification.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known {it}, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah. {Ammi: that is, My people} {Ruhamah: that is, Having obtained mercy}

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD {concerning things} which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:

And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

Simon answered and said, I suppose that {he}, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name {of the LORD}, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name {was} Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)

Said he not unto me, She {is} my sister? and she, even she herself said, He {is} my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. {integrity: or, simplicity, or, sincerity}

Remember, {and} forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done {somewhat against} any of the commandments of the LORD {concerning things} which should not be done, and are guilty;

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled {them} in condemning {him}.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and {against} God.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. {can...: or, can reasonably bear with}

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.