Book of Common Prayer

⁶ When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, ⁷ they came to the region of Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit would not permit them. ⁸ Then they went over Mysia and down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man from Macedonia who appealed to him, saying, Come into Macedonia and help us! ¹⁰ After he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia, persuaded that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. ¹¹ Then we set sail from Troas, and with a straight course went to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, which is the chief city in the parts of Macedonia, and a Roman colony.

We were in that city for several days. ¹³ And on the Sabbath days we went out of the city, beside a river where people were accustomed to pray. And we sat down and spoke to the women who gathered there. ¹⁴ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart so that she attended to the things that Paul said. ¹⁵ When she was baptized, and her household, she invited us, saying, If you think that I believe on the Lord, come into my house and stay there. And she constrained us.

He sends the seventy on before him to preach, and instructs them how to conduct themselves. He prays to his heavenly Father, answers the scribe that tested him, and by the example of the Samaritan, shows who is our neighbour. Martha receives the Lord into her house. Mary Magdalene is fervent in hearing his word.

10 After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before him into every city and place where he himself would come. ² And he said to them, The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. ³ Go your ways. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

⁴ Carry no wallet, nor bag, nor shoes, and address no man by the way. ⁵ Into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. ⁶ And if a child of peace be there, your peace will rest upon him; if not, it will return to you again. ⁷ And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they have. For the labourer is worthy of his reward. Go not from house to house.

⁸ And into whatever town you enter, if they receive you, eat such things as are set before you, ⁹ and heal the sick that are there, and say to them, The kingdom of God is come nigh upon you! ¹⁰ But into whatever town you enter, if they do not receive you, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, ¹¹ Even the very dust that cleaves on us from your city, we wipe off against you. But yet mark this, that the kingdom of God came nigh upon you.

¹² Yea and I say to you that it shall be easier in that day for Sodom than for that town.

¹⁷ And the seventy returned back again with joy, saying, Lord, even the very devils are subject to us through your name! ¹⁸ And he said to them, I saw Satan, like lightning as it were, fall down from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all manner of power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are under your power, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.