Book of Common Prayer

The obedience of people to governing powers. Love fulfils the law. It is now no time to follow the works of darkness.

13 Let every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power except from God. The powers that be are ordained by God. ² Therefore whoever resists authority, resists the ordinance of God. And those who resist will bring retribution on themselves, ³ for rulers and authorities are not to be feared for good works, but for bad. Would you be without fear of the authority? Do well then, and you will be commended by the same. ⁴ For he is the minister of God for your welfare. But if you do wrong, then fear. For he does not bear a sword for nothing, but is the minister of God to take vengeance on those who do evil. ⁵ Therefore you must obey – not for fear of vengeance only, but also because of conscience. ⁶ And also for this reason, pay tribute. For the Roman authorities are God’s ministers, serving for the same purpose.

⁷ Give to all persons therefore that which is due to them: tribute to whom tribute belongs, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear belongs, honour to whom honour pertains.

²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is my body. ²⁷ And he took the cup, and thanked, and gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, everyone. ²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

³⁰ And when they had sung praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad. ³² But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

³³ Peter answered and said to him, Even if everyone were to fall away because of you, yet I would never fall away. ³⁴ Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this same night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. ³⁵ Peter said to him, If I had to die with you, yet I would not deny you. Likewise also said all the disciples.