Book of Common Prayer
The collection and Paul’s plans
16 Now when it comes to the collection for God’s people, you should do the same as I laid down for the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, every one of you should set aside and store up whatever surplus you have gained, so that when I come I won’t have to take an actual collection. 3 Then, when I get to you, I will write formal letters to commission the people you approve, whoever they are, to go to Jerusalem with your gift. 4 If it’s appropriate for me to go as well, we can travel together.
5 I shall come to you when I’ve been through Macedonia. I intend to pass through Macedonia, you see, 6 and I may well end up staying with you, perhaps even through the winter. Then you will be able to send me on to wherever I shall be going to next. 7 I don’t want just to see you for a short time; I’m hoping to remain with you for a while, if the Lord allows me to. 8 I shall be staying on in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 A huge and important door has opened for me here, and there is plenty of opposition.
The servant
15 Jesus discovered the plots against him, and left the district. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all, 16 giving them strict instructions not to tell people about him. 17 This was so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might come true:
18 Look! Here’s my servant, whom I chose;
my beloved one, my heart’s delight.
My spirit I will place on him,
and he’ll announce true judgment
to the whole wide world.
19 He will not argue, nor will he
lift up his voice and shout aloud;
nobody in the streets will hear
his voice. 20 He will not break the damaged
reed, or snuff the guttering lamp,
until his judgment wins the day.
21 The world will hope upon his name.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.