Book of Common Prayer

¹⁵ After those days we made ourselves ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and they brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we would lodge. ¹⁷ And when we got to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ And on the morrow, Paul went in with us to James. And all the elders came together. ¹⁹ And when he had greeted them, he told in order all the things that God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.

²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousand Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous over the law. ²¹ And they are informed of you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and say that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor live according to the customs. ²² What then? This group is bound to get together, because they will hear that you have come. ²³ Do therefore what we say to you: We have four men who are under a vow. ²⁴ Take them, and purify yourself with them, and bear their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that those things that they have heard concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. ²⁵ For concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they need observe no such things, but should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication.

²⁶ Then the next day Paul took the men and purified himself with them, and entered into the temple, declaring that he was observing the days of purification until an offering should be offered for every one of them.

¹⁷ And when he had gone out to the road, a man came running, and kneeled to him and asked him, Good Teacher, what should I do so that I may inherit eternal life? ¹⁸ Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, who is God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: do not break matrimony, do not kill, do not steal, bear no false witness, defraud no man, honour your father and mother. ²⁰ He answered and said to him, Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.

²¹ Jesus regarded him with favour and said to him, One thing is lacking to you. Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come and follow me, and take up the cross.

²² But the man was downcast with that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about and said to his disciples, What a hard thing it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁴ And his disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus spoke again and said to them, Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying between themselves, Who then can be saved? ²⁷ Jesus looked upon them and said, With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible.

²⁸ And Peter began to say to him, Lo, we have left everything and have followed you. ²⁹ Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, there is no one who gives up house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this life: houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands – with persecutions – and in the world to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many that are first will be last, and the last, first.