Book of Common Prayer

The infirmity and frailness of the weak should be borne with all love and kindness, after the example of Christ.

15 We who are strong ought to bear the frailness of those who are weak, and not to stand in our own understanding. ² Let everyone please his neighbour for his wellbeing and encouragement. ³ Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written: The rebukes of those who rebuked you, fell on me. ⁴ The things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, so that we, through patience and comfort from the scripture, might have hope.

⁵ May the God of patience and consolation grant to every one of you to have such a mind towards one another, after the example of Christ Jesus, ⁶ in order that you all, in harmony together, may with one mouth praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus. ⁷ So then, receive one another as Christ received us, to the glory of God.

⁸ And I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers. ⁹ And let the Gentiles praise God for his mercy, as it is written: For this cause I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing in your name. ¹⁰ And again he says: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people! ¹¹ And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all nations! ¹² And in another place Isaiah says: The root of Jesse is to come, he who will rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may be rich in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

He sends out the twelve apostles to preach. Herod hears about him. He feeds 5,000 men with five loaves and two fishes. The disciples confess him to be the Son of God. He transfigures himself upon the mount, delivers the possessed, and teaches his disciples to be lowly. They desire vengeance, but he reproves them.

9 Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to heal diseases. ² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to cure the sick. ³ And he said to them, Take nothing to support you along the way; neither staff nor bag, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. ⁴ And whatever house you enter into, there make your stay, and from there take your leave. ⁵ And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them.

⁶ And they went out, and went through the towns preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

⁷ And Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and was disconcerted because it was said by some that John was risen again from death, ⁸ and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by some that one of the old prophets was risen up again. ⁹ And Herod said, John I have beheaded; who then is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

¹⁰ And the apostles returned and told Jesus what great things they had done. And he took them and went aside into a solitary place near to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But the people knew of it, and followed him. And he received them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. ¹² And when the day began to wear away, then the twelve came and said to him, Send the people away, so that they can go into the towns and villages round about, and find lodging and get food, for we are in a remote place here. ¹³ But he said to them, You give them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy food for all these people.

¹⁴ And there were about 5,000 men. And he said to his disciples, Have them sit down in groups of fifty. ¹⁵ And they did so, and made them all sit down. ¹⁶ And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the people. ¹⁷ And they ate and were all satisfied. And there were taken up of what remained to them twelve baskets full of leftovers.