Book of Common Prayer

You Know What Kind of Men We Were Among You When We Brought God’s Message To You

2 For you yourselves know our entrance to you, brothers— that it has not been^[a] empty^[b]. ² But having previously-suffered and been mistreated^[c] in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak the good-news of God to you in a great conflict. ³ For our exhortation^[d] is not from^[e] error, nor from impurity^[f], nor in^[g] deceit. ⁴ But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted-with the good-news, so we speak— not as pleasing people, but God, the One testing our hearts. ⁵ For neither did we at-any-time come with a word of flattery, as you know; nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness; ⁶ nor seeking glory from people— neither from you, nor from others, ⁷ [although] being able to be with weight^[h] as apostles of Christ. But we proved-to-be child-like^[i] in your midst. As when a nurse^[j] cherishes^[k] her children, ⁸ in this manner longing-affectionately for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the good-news of God, but also our own lives^[l], because you became beloved ones to us. ⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship— working by night and by day so-as not to be a burden-on^[m] any of you, we proclaimed to you the good-news of God. ¹⁰ You and God are witnesses how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we were with^[n] you, the ones believing— ¹¹ just-as you know how each one of you, as a father his own children, ¹² we were exhorting you and encouraging and testifying so-that you might walk worthily of God, the One calling you into His own kingdom and glory.

You Priests Are Like Farmers Who Killed The Owner’s Messengers And His Son

⁹ And He began to tell this parable to the people: “A certain man planted a vineyard and rented it to farmers, and went-on-a-journey for considerable periods-of-time. ¹⁰ And at harvest time, he sent-forth a slave to the farmers so that they would give to him from the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers sent him out empty-handed, having beaten him. ¹¹ And he proceeded to send another slave. But the ones, having beaten and dishonored that one also, sent him out empty-handed. ¹² And he proceeded to send a third. But the ones also threw out this one, having wounded him. ¹³ And the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will have-regard-for this one’. ¹⁴ But having seen him, the farmers were reasoning with one another, saying, ‘This one is the heir. Let us kill him in order that the inheritance may become ours’. ¹⁵ And having thrown him outside of the vineyard, they killed him. Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy these farmers, and give the vineyard to others”. And having heard it, they said, “May it never be!”

But As It Is Written, The Stone The Builders Rejected Became The Cornerstone

¹⁷ But the One, having looked-at them, said, “Then what is this having been written [in Ps 118:22]: ‘The stone which the ones building rejected, this became the head^[a] of the corner’? ¹⁸ Everyone having fallen upon that stone will be broken-to-pieces. And^[b] upon whomever it may fall, it will crush^[c] him”.