Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ And it happened, when I returned again to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance, ¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and get quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive the witness that you bear of me.

¹⁹ And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on you. ²⁰ And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and minded the garments of those who slew him. ²¹ Then he said to me, Depart, for I will send you far from here, to the Gentiles.

²² The people listened to him until these words, and then lifted up their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! It is a pity that he should live! ²³ And as they cried out and cast off their clothes and threw dust into the air, ²⁴ the high captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and commanded him to be scourged and examined in order to find out why the people cried out so against him. ²⁵ And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and without a trial? ²⁶ When the centurion heard that, he went and told the high captain, saying, What do you intend to do? This man is a Roman.

²⁷ Then the high captain came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? He said, Yes. ²⁸ And the captain answered, With a great sum I obtained this freedom. And Paul said, I was free born.

²⁹ Then the soldiers who were to have examined him straightaway drew back from him. And the high captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

²⁷ But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸ Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who wrongfully trouble you. ²⁹ And to him that strikes you on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that takes away your gown, forbid not to take your coat also. ³⁰ Give to every man that asks of you. And of him who takes away your goods, ask not for them back. ³¹ And as you would have others do unto you, so do unto them likewise.

³² If you love those who love you, what credit are you worthy of? For the very sinners love their friends. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit are you worthy of? For the very sinners do even the same. ³⁴ If you lend to people from whom you hope to receive, what credit should you have? For the very sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much in return. ³⁵ Therefore love your enemies, do good, and lend, looking for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be the children of the Highest. For he is kind to the unkind and to the evil.

³⁶ Be therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful. ³⁷ Judge not, and you will not be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men give into your bosoms. For the measure that you use will be measured back to you.