Book of Common Prayer
A light to the Gentiles
44 On the next sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with righteous indignation, and spoke blasphemous words against what Paul was saying.
46 Paul and Barnabas grew very bold.
“God’s word had to be spoken to you first,” they declared. “But since you are rejecting it, and judging yourselves unworthy of the life of God’s new age, look! We are turning to the Gentiles! 47 This is what the Lord has commanded, you see:
I have set you for a light to the nations,
so that you can be salvation-bringers to the end of the earth.”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were thrilled, and they praised the word of the Lord. All those who were marked out for the life of God’s new age became believers. 49 And the word of the Lord spread through the whole land.
50 But the Jews incited the devout aristocratic women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 They, however, shook the dust off their feet and went on to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and with the holy spirit.
The Messiah and the father
19 So there was again a division among the Judaeans because of what Jesus had said.
20 “He’s demon-possessed!” some were saying. “He’s raving mad! Why listen to him?”
21 “No,” said some others, “that’s not how demon-possessed people talk. Anyway, how could a demon open a blind man’s eyes?”
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the Temple, in Solomon’s Porch. 24 The Judaeans surrounded him.
“How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense?” they asked. “If you are the Messiah, say so out loud!”
25 “I told you,” replied Jesus, “and you didn’t believe. The works which I’m doing in my father’s name give evidence about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you don’t belong to my sheep.
27 “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them the life of the coming age. They will never, ever perish, and nobody can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and nobody can snatch them out of my father’s hand. 30 I and the father are one.”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.