Book of Common Prayer

¹⁹ And having taken food, he strengthened.

Saul Begins Proclaiming Christ In Damascus. He Escapes a Plot To Kill Him

Now he came-to-be with the disciples in Damascus for some days. ²⁰ And immediately he was proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues— that this One is the Son of God. ²¹ And all the ones hearing were astonished, and were saying, “Is not this the one having destroyed in Jerusalem the ones calling-upon this name? And he had come here for this— that he might bring them bound to the chief priests!” ²² And Saul was becoming more strong. And he was confounding^[a] the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ. ²³ And when considerable days were being fulfilled, the Jews plotted to kill him. ²⁴ But their plot was known by Saul. And they were even closely-watching the gates both by day and by night so that they might kill him. ²⁵ But his disciples, having taken him by night, let him down through the wall, having lowered^[b] him in a large-basket.

Saul Joins The Disciples In Jerusalem. Due To a Plot To Kill Him, He Is Sent To Tarsus

²⁶ And having arrived in Jerusalem, he was trying to join the disciples. And they all were fearing him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas, having taken-hold-of him, brought him to the apostles and related to them how he saw the Lord on the road, and that^[c] He spoke to him; and how in Damascus he spoke-boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ And he was with them, going in and going out in Jerusalem, speaking-boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he was speaking and debating with the Hellenists, but the ones were attempting^[d] to kill him. ³⁰ But the brothers, having learned it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

The Church Enjoys Peace And Growth

³¹ So indeed the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria was having peace, while being built-up. And it was being multiplied while walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort^[e] of the Holy Spirit.

My Flesh Is True Food; My Blood Is True Drink. Partake And Live Forever

⁵² Then the Jews were fighting with one another, saying, “How can this One give us His flesh to eat?” ⁵³ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless^[a] you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves. ⁵⁴ The one eating My flesh and drinking My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵ For My flesh is true^[b] food, and My blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ The one eating My flesh and drinking My blood abides in Me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent Me forth, and I live because of the Father, indeed the one eating Me— that one also will live because of Me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread having come down from heaven; not as the manna the fathers ate and died. The one eating this bread will live forever”. ⁵⁹ He said these things in a synagogue while teaching in Capernaum.