The Lord’s call to Saint Augustine to take up and read Romans

Berkeley, Monday, January 26, 2026 2:37 AM

…

I will read the brief passage in the link below.

There is a record of a divine calling to Saint Augustine.

But also it is an incomplete post. Feel free to skip.

It is a good reference and memory, though.

A picture of what is in the title is on the pages below, which are from Saint Augustine’s book Confessions. Book VIII. Chapter 12. Paragraphs 28 and 29. See also a translation in this link: Translated by J.G. Pilkington. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/110108.htm>.

Saint Augustine hear a voice: “Take up and read; take up and read”…

It was the Lord. He read Romans 13:13-14, which says as follows “let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”

That marked Saint Augustine’s conversion. I believe. Confessions is another book, which is on my reading list, and usually on my desk. I have twelve pages more to go to my current read. I will read a short book after that, which is about 80ish pages. By the end of February, early March I should be done with those two. But there a few more directions to plan in detail.

The pictures are from Saint Augustine’s book Confessions. Translation by Henry Chadwick. Editorial: Oxford World’s Classics.

Four Things You Should Know about the Life of Saint Augustine