Book of Common Prayer

¹⁰ The ruler made a sign for Paul to speak. So Paul said, `I know that for many years you have judged matters for this people.

¹¹ So I am happy to speak for myself. Not more than twelve days ago I went to Jerusalem to worship. If you ask the people, you will find this out.

¹² They did not find me quarrelling with anyone in the temple. I was not making trouble among the people in the meeting houses or in the city.

¹³ They cannot prove the things they have said against me here.

¹⁴ But I myself tell you this. I worship the God of my fathers in the Christian way. They say this is not the right way. I believe everything that the law teaches. I believe everything that the prophets have written.

¹⁵ I believe that God will raise from death both the good people and the bad people. These people here believe the same thing.

¹⁶ I always try to do what is right to God and to men.

¹⁷ `I was away for a few years and I had come to Jerusalem to bring gifts to my people, and to give offerings.

¹⁸ While I was doing this, they found me in the temple. I had made myself clean the way the law says to do. I did not have many people around me. I was not making trouble.

¹⁹ Some Jews were there from Asia Minor. They should be here before you and talk against me if they have anything to say.

²⁰ Or let these men here tell if they found anything wrong with me when I stood in their court.

²¹ I did this one thing. I shouted while I was standing among them, "I am being judged today because I believe that the dead will be raised again." '

¹² Then Jesus said to the man who had asked him to come, `When you make a dinner or a feast, do not ask your friends, or your brothers, or the people in your family, or your rich neighbours. They will repay you by making a dinner for you.

¹³ But when you make a dinner, ask the people who are poor, hurt, lame, or blind.

¹⁴ You will be made happy because they cannot pay you. You will be repaid when all good people are raised from death.'

¹⁵ One of those who was sitting at the table heard this. He said, `Happy is the person who will eat in the kingdom of God!'

¹⁶ But Jesus said to him, `A man made a big feast and asked many people to come.

¹⁷ When the feast was ready, he sent his servant to tell the people who had been asked. He said, "Come. Everything is ready."

¹⁸ But the people all began to make excuses. The first one said, `I have bought a farm. I must go and see it. I beg you, excuse me from the feast."

¹⁹ Another man said, "I have bought ten oxen. I am going to see them. I beg you, excuse me from the feast."

²⁰ Another one said, "I have married a woman, and so I cannot come."

²¹ `The servant came and told his master. Then the master was very angry. He said to his servant, "Go out quickly. Go on all the streets in the city. Bring here people who are poor, hurt, blind, or lame."

²² `The servant came back and said, "Sir, I have done what you told me to do. There is still room for more people."

²³ Then the master said to the servant, "Go out onto the roads and behind bushes. Find people and make them come in so that my house will be full.

²⁴ I tell you, not one of the men who were called first will eat any of my feast.'