Book of Common Prayer

Paul reminds them of the godly life he led among them when he preached the gospel to them, thanks God that they receive his word so fruitfully, and excuses his absence.

2 For you yourselves know, brethren, of our coming to you, how it was not in vain. ² But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated at Philippi (as you well know), then we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much striving. ³ Our exhortation was not to bring you to error, nor yet to uncleanness. Neither was it with guile, ⁴ but as we were approved by God to have the gospel committed to us, even so we speak – not as though we intended to please men, but God, who tries our hearts.

⁵ Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words, as you well know, nor in cloaked covetousness; God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek praise from men: not from you, nor yet from any others, when we might have imposed ourselves upon you as the apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were tender among you. Even as a nurse-mother cares for her children, ⁸ so was our affection toward you. Our good pleasure was to have given you not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.

⁹ You remember, brethren, our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night because we did not want to be burdensome to any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹ as you know how we exhorted and comforted and besought every one of you, as a father his children, ¹² to walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory.

⁹ Then he began and put forth to the people this similitude: A certain man planted a vineyard and let it out to farmers, and went himself into a far country for a great season. ¹⁰ And when the time came, he sent a servant to his tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruits of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ And again he sent yet another servant. And they beat him and grievously used him also, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² Moreover he sent a third too, and him they wounded and cast out.

¹³ Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my dear son; him perhaps they will respect, when they see him. ¹⁴ But when the farmers saw him, they thought in themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, let us kill him so that the inheritance can be ours. ¹⁵ And they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now, what will the lord of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy these farmers, and will let out his vineyard to others.

When they heard that, they said, God forbid!

¹⁷ And he looked upon them and said, What then does this mean that is written: The stone that the builders refused, the same is made the head cornerstone; ¹⁸ whosoever stumbles at that stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder?