John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)

^14 (B)Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore ^(C)these powers are at work in him.”

^15 (D)Others said, “It is Elijah.”

And others said, “It is ^[a]the Prophet, ^(E)or like one of the prophets.”

^16 (F)But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. ¹⁸ Because John had said to Herod, ^(G)“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

¹⁹ Therefore Herodias ^[b]held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; ²⁰ for Herod ^(H)feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he ^[c]did many things, and heard him gladly.

^21 (I)Then an opportune day came when Herod ^(J)on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. ²² And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” ²³ He also swore to her, ^(K)“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

²⁵ Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

^26 (L)And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and ^(M)took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

Feeding the Five Thousand^(N)

^30 (O)Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

⁵¹ “You ^(A)stiff-necked^[a] and ^(B)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ^52 (C)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of ^(D)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ^53 (E)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Stephen the Martyr

^54 (F)When they heard these things they were ^[b]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, ^(G)being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the ^(H)glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, “Look! ^(I)I see the heavens opened and the ^(J)Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And ^(K)the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, ^(L)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ^(M)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Paul’s Ministry at Rome

¹⁷ And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, ^(A)though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet ^(B)I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸ who, ^(C)when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the ^[a]Jews spoke against it, ^(D)I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. ²⁰ For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because ^(E)for the hope of Israel I am bound with ^(F)this chain.”

²¹ Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that ^(G)it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, ^(H)to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus ^(I)from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. ²⁴ And ^(J)some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. ²⁵ So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to ^[b]our fathers, ²⁶ saying,

²⁸ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent ^(L)to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” ^29 [c]And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

³⁰ Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, ^31 (M)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(A)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(B)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(C)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(D)my departure is at hand. ^7 (E)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(F)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(G)Judge, will give to me ^(H)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.