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.

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.

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.

though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in 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 was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

“ But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias,“ I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened— those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

Then Jesus told him,“ I entered this world to render judgment— to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked,“ Are you saying we’re blind?”“ If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied.“ But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

“ Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion— how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.

And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

“ But those who brazenly violate the Lord’s will, whether native born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the Lord, and they must be cut off from the community.

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.

Jesus said,“ Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“ Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied,“ I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

“ I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called‘ Not loved.’ And to those I called‘ Not my people,’ I will say,‘ Now you are my people.’ And they will reply,‘ You are our God!’”

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.

I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

“ And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.

It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.They prove the truth of this proverb:“ A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says,“ A washed pig returns to the mud.”

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

“ Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”