Book of Common Prayer

³⁰ On the day following, because he wanted to know exactly what Paul was accused of by the Jews, the captain released him from his bonds, and commanded the high priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul and set him before them.

Paul comes before the council. Debate arises among the people. The high captain delivers him. God comforts him.

23 Paul beheld the council and said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. ² Then the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by to strike him on the mouth.

³ Then Paul said to him, God smite you, you painted wall! Do you sit and judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?

⁴ And those who stood by said, Do you revile God’s high priest?

⁵ Then Paul said, I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest. For it is written: You shall not curse the ruler of your people.

⁶ When Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is concerning the hope and resurrection from death that I am on trial.

⁷ And when he had said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and also no angels or spirits. But the Pharisees grant both. ⁹ And there arose a great cry, and the scribes who were of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, We find no evil in this man. And if a spirit or an angel has appeared to him, let us not strive against God.

¹⁰ And when great controversy arose, the captain, fearing lest Paul should be pulled apart by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle. ¹¹ The night following, the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul. For as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness at Rome.

Jesus heals the paralytic, calls Levi, the customs officer, eats with open sinners, and defends his disciples.

2 After a few days he entered into Capernaum again, and it was rumoured that he was in a house. ² And soon many gathered together, insomuch that now there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door. And he preached the word to them. ³ And there came to him people bringing a paralytic, borne by four men. ⁴ And because they could not come near to him, for the press of people, they uncovered the roof of the house where he was. And when they had broken it open, they let down the bed that the paralytic lay in. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you.

⁶ And certain of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, ⁷ How does this fellow so blaspheme? Who can forgive sins, but God only? ⁸ And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so questioned in themselves, he said to them, Why do you think such things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier to say to the paralytic: Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise, take up your bed and walk? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of man has power in earth to forgive sins– He spoke to the paralytic: ¹¹ I say to you, arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your own house. ¹² And at once he arose, took up the bed, and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We have never seen anything like this!