Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ And it came about after three days that Paul called the chief Jews together. And when they were assembled, he said to them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or laws of our fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸ who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because they found no cause of death in me. ¹⁹ But when the Jews cried out against this, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar – not because I had anything to accuse my people of. ²⁰ So I have called for you in order to see you and to speak with you, because it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.

²¹ And they said to him, We have not received any letters out of Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brethren who came here report or speak any ill of you. ²² But we will hear from you what you think. For we have heard of this sect, that everywhere it is spoken against.

²³ And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging. To them he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, and preached to them of Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and also out of the prophets, even from morning to night.

²⁴ And some believed the things that were spoken, and some did not believe. ²⁵ So in disagreement among themselves they departed, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ²⁶ Go to this people and say, With your ears you will hear and will not understand, and with your eyes you will see and not perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted; and I would heal them. ²⁸ Let it be known to you, therefore, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.

²⁹ And when he had said that, the Jews departed, and had great disputations among themselves.

³⁰ And Paul dwelt two full years in his lodging, and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things that concerned the Lord Jesus with all confidence, unforbidden.

Here ends the Acts
of the apostles.

³⁷ And the next day, as they came down from the hill, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ And a man from the crowd cried out, saying, Teacher, I beg you, look upon my son, for he is all that I have. ³⁹ And see, a spirit takes him, and suddenly he shouts out. And it tears him so that he foams at the mouth, and with much pain departs from him when he has battered him. ⁴⁰ And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.

⁴¹ Jesus answered and said, O generation without faith and perverse, how long shall I be with you and suffer you? Bring your son here.

⁴² And as the boy was yet coming, the fiend rent him and tore him. ⁴³ And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.

While everyone marvelled at all the things that he did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ Let these words sink down into your ears: the time will come when the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men. ⁴⁵ But they did not comprehend what that saying meant. It was hid from them, so that they did not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

⁴⁶ Then there arose a dispute among them, who should be the greatest.  ⁴⁷ When Jesus perceived the thoughts of their hearts, he took a child and set him close by himself ⁴⁸ and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

⁴⁹ And John answered and said, Master, we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and we told him not to, because he does not follow with us. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not. For whoever is not against us, is with us.