Book of Common Prayer

He explains the cause of his imprisonment, and more of the revelation of the mystery of Christ. He desires them not to faint because of his trouble, and prays God to make them steadfast in his Spirit.

3 For this then I, Paul, am in the bonds of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you who are heathen – ² if you have heard of the ministration of the grace of God that is given to me for you. ³ For by revelation he showed this mystery to me, as I wrote above in a few words, ⁴ from which, when you read, you may know my understanding in the mystery of Christ. ⁵ This mystery was not in times past opened to the sons of men as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶ that the Gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ by the means of the gospel – ⁷ of which gospel I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God given to me through the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the least of all saints, is this grace given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is.

This mystery has from the beginning of the world been hid in God, who made all things through Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ to the intent that now, through the congregation, the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the rulers and powers in heaven, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² by whom we are bold to draw near in the confidence that we have by faith on him.

¹³ Therefore I desire that you faint not because of my tribulations for your sakes, which are worthy to be glorified by you.

⁵ When Jesus had entered into Capernaum, there came to him a certain centurion, who besought him, ⁶ saying, Master, my servant lies sick at home, paralyzed, and is grievously pained. ⁷ And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him. ⁸ The centurion answered and said, Sir, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ⁹ For I also myself am a man subject to the authority of another, and have soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go! and he goes, and to another, Come! and he comes, and to my servant, Do this! and he does it.

¹⁰ When Jesus heard that, he marvelled, and said to the people who followed him, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel. ¹¹ I say therefore to you that many will come from the east and west, and will rest with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, ¹² but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way, and as you believe, so be it unto you. And his servant was healed that very same hour.

¹⁴ And then Jesus went to Peter’s house, and saw his wife’s mother lying sick of a fever, ¹⁵ and touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and ministered to them.

¹⁶ When the evening was come, people brought to him many who were possessed with devils. And he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, ¹⁷ to fulfil that which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, He took on him our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.