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Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

Acts of the Apostles 3


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1Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour,2it happened that there was a man being carried along. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to puthim down every day near the Temple entrance cal ed the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the peoplegoing in.3When this man saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple he begged from them.4Peter, and John too, looked straight at him and said, 'Look at us.'5He turned to them expectantly, hoping to get something from them,6but Peter said, 'I have neither silver nor gold, but I wil give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christthe Nazarene, walk!'7Then he took him by the right hand and helped him to stand up. Instantly his feet and ankles becamefirm,8he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went with them into the Temple, walking and jumpingand praising God.9Everyone could see him walking and praising God,10and they recognised him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Theywere all astonished and perplexed at what had happened to him.11Everyone came running towards them in great excitement, to the Portico of Solomon, as it is called,where the man was stil clinging to Peter and John.12When Peter saw the people he addressed them, 'Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Whyare you staring at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or holiness?13It is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified his servantJesus whom you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had given his verdict torelease him.14It was you who accused the Holy and Upright One, you who demanded that a murderer should bereleased to you15while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are witnesses;16and it is the name of Jesus which, through faith in him, has brought back the strength of this manwhom you see here and who is wel known to you. It is faith in him that has restored this man to health, as youcan al see.17'Now I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were real y doing;18but this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said through all his prophets thathis Christ would suffer.19Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,20and so that the Lord may send the time of comfort. Then he wil send you the Christ he haspredestined, that is Jesus,21whom heaven must keep til the universal restoration comes which God proclaimed, speaking throughhis holy prophets.22Moses, for example, said, "From among your brothers the Lord God wil raise up for you a prophet likeme; you wil listen to whatever he tells you.23Anyone who refuses to listen to that prophet shal be cut off from the people."24In fact, al the prophets that have ever spoken, from Samuel onwards, have predicted these days.25'You are the heirs of the prophets, the heirs of the covenant God made with your ancestors when hetold Abraham, "Al the nations of the earth will be blessed in your descendants".26It was for you in the first place that God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you as every one ofyou turns from his wicked ways.'