Book of Common Prayer

The Home of The Bride of The Lamb: The New Jerusalem

⁹ And one of the seven angels^[a] having the seven bowls being-full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying “Come, I will show you the bride^[b], the wife of the Lamb”. ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit^[c] to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, ¹¹ having the glory of God, the brilliance of it resembling a very-precious stone like a jasper stone, shining-like-crystal^[d]; ¹² having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names having been inscribed— which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. ¹³ Three gates from the east, and three gates from the north, and three gates from the south, and three gates from the west. ¹⁴ And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And the one speaking with me had a golden measuring rod, in order that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. ¹⁶ And the city lies square— indeed its length is as much as also the width. And he measured the city with the rod, a-matter-of twelve thousand stades^[e]. Its length and width and height are equal. ¹⁷ And he measured its wall— a hundred forty four cubits^[f] (a human’s measure, which is an angel’s [also]). ¹⁸ And the material of ^[g] its wall is jasper, and the city is pure gold resembling pure^[h] glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city have been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation is jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; ²⁰ the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, carnelian; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. ²¹ And the twelve gates are twelve pearls— individually, each one of the gates was from one pearl. And the wide-road of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

Jesus Again Predicts His Death And Resurrection

²² And while they were being gathered^[a] in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed-over into the hands of men. ²³ And they will kill Him. And He will be raised on the third day”. And they were extremely grieved.

Jesus Pays His Temple Tax With a Coin From a Fish He Sent Peter To Catch

²⁴ And they having come to Capernaum, the ones^[b] taking the double-drachmas^[c] came to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the double-drachmas?” ²⁵ He says, “Yes”. And Peter having come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What seems right to you, Simon— from whom do the kings of the earth take taxes^[d] or a poll-tax^[e], from their sons^[f] or from the strangers?” ²⁶ And Peter having said “From the strangers”, Jesus said to him, “Then indeed, the sons^[g] are free! ²⁷ But in order that we may not offend^[h] them— having gone to the sea, cast a hook. And take the first fish having come up. And having opened its mouth, you will find a stater^[i]. Having taken that, give it to them for Me and you”.