Book of Common Prayer

¹⁰ A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said. `Ananias.' He replied, `Here I am, Lord.'

¹¹ The Lord said, `Go into the street which is called Straight. At the house of Judas, ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus. He is there, talking with God.

¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming to him. He has seen him put his hands on him so that he may see again.'

¹³ Then Ananias replied, `Lord, often I have heard of this man. He has brought much trouble to your people at Jerusalem.

¹⁴ The chief priests have given him power in this city to put into prison all those who call on your name.'

¹⁵ The Lord said, `Go, I have chosen him to take my name to the people who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel also.

¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.'

¹⁷ Then Ananias went. He went into the house and put his hands on Saul. He said, `Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus came to you on the road while you were coming here. He has sent me to you so that you may see again, and that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

¹⁸ At once some kind of skin which had covered Saul's eyes came off. He was able to see again from then on. He got up and was baptised.

¹⁹ And when he had eaten food, he was strong again. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples at Damascus.

⁴¹ The leaders of the Jews did not like Jesus to say, `I am the bread that has come down from heaven.'

⁴² They said, `Is he not Joseph's son, Jesus? We know his father and mother. How can he say, "I have come down from heaven"?'

⁴³ Jesus answered them, `There is no need for you to talk against me to each other.

⁴⁴ No one can come to me if my Father does not draw him. He sent me. I myself will raise up the one who comes to me. I will bring him back to life on the last day.

⁴⁵ The prophets wrote, "God will teach all people." So then, every person who listens to his words and learns what he says, he will come to me.

⁴⁶ `But no person has seen my Father. The only one who has seen him is the one who comes from God. He has seen my Father.

⁴⁷ I tell you the truth. The person who believes in me will live for ever.

⁴⁸ I am the bread that gives life.

⁴⁹ Your fathers ate bread in the desert long ago, but they died.

⁵⁰ Here is bread that comes down from heaven. The person who eats this bread will never die.

⁵¹ I am the bread that gives life. I came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. I will give bread so that the world may live. I am that bread.'