Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁶ When they had come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ⁷ And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in his own power. ⁸ But you will receive power from the Holy Spirit, who shall come on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the world’s end.

⁹ After he had spoken these things, while they looked on, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly up to heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen him go into heaven.

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey. ¹³ And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, James’ son. ¹⁴ These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

¹² Dearly beloveds, be not troubled in this heat that has now come among you to try you, as if some strange thing had happened to you. ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s passions, so that when his glory appears, you may be merry and glad. ¹⁴ If you are railed upon for the name of Christ, happy are you. For the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

⁶ Submit yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you when the time is come. ⁷ Cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you.

⁸ Be sober and watch, for your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; ⁹ whom resist steadfast in the faith, remembering that you do but fulfil the same afflictions as are appointed to your brethren that are in the world. ¹⁰ The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, will his own self, after you have suffered a little affliction, make you perfect – will settle, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be glory and dominion forever and while the world endures. Amen.

The most hearty and loving prayer of Christ to his Father for all those who receive the truth.

17 These words Jesus spoke, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you. ² For you have given him power over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to as many as you have given him. ³ This is life eternal: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

⁴ I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now glorify me, Father, with your own self – with the glory that I had with you before the world was. ⁶ I have declared your name to the men that you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your sayings. ⁷ Now they know that all things, whatsoever you have given me, are of you. ⁸ For I have given to them the words that you gave me and they have received them, and know surely that I came out from you, and do believe that you did send me.

⁹ I pray for them – and pray not for the world, but for those whom you have given me. For they are yours. ¹⁰ And all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep in your own name those whom you have given me so that they may be one, as we are.