Book of Common Prayer
The Messiah is proclaimed
12 Now, my dear family, I want you to know that the things I’ve been through have actually helped the gospel on its way. 13 You see, everybody in the Imperial Guard, and all the rest for that matter, have heard that I am here, chained up, because of the Messiah. 14 My imprisonment has given new confidence to most of the Lord’s family; they are now much more prepared to speak the word boldly and fearlessly.
15 There are some, I should say, who are proclaiming the Messiah because of envy and rivalry; but there are others who are doing it out of good will. 16 These last are acting from love, since they know that I’m in prison because of defending the gospel; 17 but the others are announcing the Messiah out of selfishness and jealousy. They are not acting from pure motives. They imagine that they will make more trouble for me in my captivity.
18 So what? Only this: the Messiah is being announced, whether people mean it or not! I’m happy to celebrate that!
To live or to die?
Yes, and I really am going to celebrate: 19 because I know that this will result in my rescue, through your prayer and the support of the spirit of Messiah Jesus. 20 I’m waiting eagerly and full of hope, because nothing is going to put me to shame. I am going to be bold and outspoken, now as always, and the Messiah is going to gain a great reputation through my body, whether in life or in death.
21 You see, for me to live means the Messiah; to die means to make a profit. 22 If it’s to be living on in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. Actually, I don’t know which I would choose. 23 I’m pulled both ways at once: I would really love to leave all this and be with the Messiah, because that would be far better. 24 But staying on here in the flesh is more vital for your sake. 25 Since I’ve become convinced of this, I know that I will remain here, and stay alongside all of you, to help you to advance and rejoice in your faith, 26 so that the pride you take in Messiah Jesus may overflow because of me, when I come to visit you once again.
The gospel in public
27 The one thing I would stress is this: your public behavior must match up to the gospel of the Messiah. That way, whether I do come and see you or whether I remain elsewhere, the news that I get about you will indicate that you are standing firm with a single spirit, struggling side by side with one united intent for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not letting your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is a sign from God: one that signifies their destruction, but your salvation.
29 Yes: God has granted you that, on behalf of the Messiah, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 30 You are engaged in the same struggle which you once watched me go through; and, as you now hear, I’m still going through it.
The resurrection
16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they could come and anoint Jesus. 2 Then, very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, just at sunrise. 3 They were saying to one another, “There’s that stone at the door of the tomb—who’s going to roll it away for us?”
4 Then, when they looked up, they saw that it had been rolled away. (It was extremely large.)
5 So they went into the tomb, and there they saw a young man sitting on the right-hand side. He was wearing white. They were totally astonished.
6 “Don’t be astonished,” he said to them. “You’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He isn’t here! Look—this is the place where they laid him.
7 “But go and tell his disciples—including Peter—that he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, just like he told you.”
8 They went out, and fled from the tomb. Trembling and panic had seized them. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Two extra endings
[[They gave a brief account to the people around Peter of what they had been told. After this, Jesus himself sent out from East to West, through their work, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.]]
9 [When Jesus was raised, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told the people who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that he was alive, and that he had been seen by her, they didn’t believe it.
12 After this he appeared in a different guise to two of them as they were walking into the countryside. 13 They came back and told the others, but they didn’t believe them.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the eleven themselves, as they were at table. He told them off for their unbelief and hardheartedness, for not believing those who had seen him after he had been raised.
15 “Go into all the world,” he said to them, “and announce the message to all creation. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be rescued, but people who don’t believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will happen around those who believe: they will drive out demons in my name, they will speak with new tongues, 18 they will pick up serpents in their hands; and if they drink anything poisonous it won’t harm them. They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get better.”
19 When the Lord Jesus had spoken with them, he was taken up into heaven, and sat down at God’s right hand. 20 They went out and announced the message everywhere. The Lord worked with them, validating their message by the signs that accompanied them.]
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.