Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ Obey those who have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls even as those who must give accounts. Let them do it with joy, and not with grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you.

¹⁸ Pray for us. We have confidence, because we have a good conscience in all things, and desire to live righteously. ¹⁹ I ask you therefore even more so to pray that I may be restored to you quickly.

²⁰ May the God of peace, who brought back again from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament, ²¹ make you perfect in all good works to do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ – to whom be glory forever while the world endures. Amen.

²² I beseech you brethren, submit patiently to the words of exhortation. For we have written to you in few words.

²³ Acknowledge the brother Timothy, whom we have sent from us, with whom (if he comes shortly) I will see you.

²⁴ Greet those who have the oversight of you, and all the saints. The people of Italy send you greetings.

²⁵ Grace be with you all.

Sent from Italy by
the hand of
Timothy.

⁵³ And every man went to his own house.

A woman is caught in adultery. Christ delivers her. The freedom of those who follow Christ. They accuse him of having the devil with him, and go about to stone him.

8 And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, ² and early in the morning came again into the temple. And all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. ³ And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery, and set her in the midst, ⁴ and said to him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, even in the act. ⁵ Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned. What therefore do you say?

⁶ And they said this to bait him, to have something to accuse him of.

Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. ⁷ And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you, cast the first stone at her. ⁸ And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And as soon as they heard that, they went out one by one, the eldest first. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the centre. ¹⁰ When Jesus lifted up himself again and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, Woman, where are they, your accusers? Has no one condemned you? ¹¹ She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.