Today’s Readings – Friday of Week 3 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 9:1-20

Today’s reading touches on one of the major turning points in the development of the early Christian community and indeed for the future of the whole Church in centuries to come. Luke gives three accounts in Acts (9:1-20; 22:5-16; 26:10-18) of this momentous event. The second and third accounts are given in Paul’s own words as parts of discourses he gave. Paul also speaks about the experience in the Letter to the Galatians (Gal 1:12-17). The incident probably took place in 36 AD, about 12 years before the Council of Jerusalem, which cleared the way for Gentiles to be fully incorporated into the Christian community. The Council was held in AD 49.

Saul, we are told, was:

...still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord...


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Yesterday’s Readings – Thursday of Week 3 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 8:26-40

Again we meet the deacon Philip, whom we see in preceding passages to be a very successful preacher of the Gospel to the people of Samaria. The Samaritans were doing so well that Peter and John were now sent to baptise them in the Holy Spirit. In today’s rea … Continue