Book of Common Prayer

¹⁴ And so, my dear beloveds, flee from the worshipping of idols. ¹⁵ I speak as to people who have discernment. Judge what I say. ¹⁶ Is not the cup of blessing that we bless, partaking of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break, partaking of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because we, though we be many, yet are one bread and one body, inasmuch as we are all partakers of one bread. ¹⁸ Observe Israel which walks carnally; are not those who eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar?

¹⁹ What am I saying then? That the idol is anything? or that what is offered to idols is anything? ²⁰ No, but I say that these things that the Gentiles offer, they offer to devils, and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with the devils. ²¹ You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of the devils. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s Table and of the table of devils. ²² Or shall we provoke the Lord? Are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful to me, but all things are not helpful. ²³ All things are lawful to me, but all things do not edify. ²⁴ Let no one seek his own profit, but let each seek the welfare of the other. ²⁵ Whatever is sold in the market, eat it, and ask no questions for conscience’ sake. ²⁶ For the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. ²⁷ If any unbelievers invite you to a feast and if you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁸ But if anyone says to you, This is dedicated to idols, then do not eat of it – for the sake of the one who told you and for injury of conscience.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.

²⁹ Conscience, I say: not yours, but the conscience of that other. For why should my liberty be judged by another man’s conscience? ³⁰ For if I share in the meal with thanks, why am I ill spoken of for the thing I give thanks for? ³¹ Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² See that you give no occasion of evil, neither to the Jews nor yet to the Gentiles, nor to the congregation of God – ³³ even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, so that they might be saved. 11 ¹ Follow me, as I do Christ.

²⁸ When Jesus had come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two men possessed by devils met him, coming out from among the graves. They were out of measure fierce, so that no one could pass by that way. ²⁹ And behold, they cried out, saying, O Jesus, Son of God, what have we to do with you? Have you come here to torment us before the time be come?

³⁰ And a good way off from them there was a great herd of swine feeding. ³¹ Then the devils besought him, saying, If you cast us out, let us go our way into the herd of swine. ³² And he said to them, Go your ways. Then they went out and dispersed into the herd of swine. And behold, the whole herd of swine was carried with violence headlong into the sea, and perished in the water.

³³ Then the herdsmen fled, and went their ways into the town and told everything, and what had happened to the men possessed by the devils. ³⁴ And all the town came out and met Jesus. And when they saw him, they besought him to depart from their shores.