Book of Common Prayer

The everlasting birth of Christ, and how he became man. The testimony of John. The calling of Andrew, Peter, etc.

1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. ⁴ In it was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ This man came as a witness to bear witness of the light, so that all through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light ⁹ that was the true light, who lights all men that come into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and yet the world knew him not.

¹¹ He came among his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them he gave power to be the children of God, in that they believed on his name – ¹³ who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor yet of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father, which word was full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bore witness of him and cried out, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, who, though he came after me, went before me, because he was before me. ¹⁶ And of his fullness we have all received, even grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

¹³ And behold, two of them set out that same day for a town called Emmaus, which was about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they talked together about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ And it so was, as they conversed together and discussed, that Jesus himself drew near and went alongside them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were held, so they could not know him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, What sort of conversations are these that you are having with each other as you walk and are sad?

¹⁸ And the one named Cleopas answered and said to him, Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and do not know about the things that have happened there in these days?

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, What things?

And they said to him, Of Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the high priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. ²¹ But we trusted that it was he who would deliver Israel. And regarding all these things, today is just the third day since they happened. ²² Yea, and also certain women of our company have us mystified. They went early to the sepulchre, ²³ but did not find his body, and came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ And some of those who were with us went their way to the sepulchre and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.

²⁵ And he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?

²⁷ And he began at Moses and at all the prophets, and interpreted to them all the scriptures that were written about him. ²⁸ And they drew near the town they were headed to, and Jesus made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹ But they constrained him, saying, Stay with us, for it is drawing towards night and the day is far past. And he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ And it came to pass, as he sat at food with them, he took bread, blessed it, broke, and gave to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³² And they said between themselves, Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us along the road and as he opened to us the scriptures?

³³ And they rose up the same hour and returned again to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, ³⁴ who said, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!

³⁵ And the two told what things had happened along the road, and how they knew him in the breaking of bread.

¹⁹ The same day at night, which was the day after the Sabbath day, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you. ²⁰ And when he had so said, he showed to them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As my Father sent me, so I also send you.

²² And when he had said that, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ Whosever sins you remit, they are remitted to them, and whosever sins you retain, they are retained.