Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

2 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee. ² And the Spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet; and I heard him that spake unto me. ³ And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to nations that are rebellious, which have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me even unto this very day. ⁴ And the children are impudent and stiffhearted: ^[a]I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah. ⁵ And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

An expectant prayer for Jehovah’s help.

A Song of Ascents.

² I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth), ⁴ how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses. ⁶ For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me. ⁷ And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the ^[a]revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a ^[b]thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. ⁸ Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may ^[c]rest upon me. ¹⁰ Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

6 And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country; and his disciples follow him. ² And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and ^[a]many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and what mean such ^[b]mighty works wrought by his hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of ^[c]James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were ^[d]offended in him. ⁴ And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. ⁵ And he could there do no ^[e]mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. ⁶ And he marvelled because of their unbelief.

And he went round about the villages teaching.

⁷ And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ⁸ and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no ^[f]money in their ^[g]purse; ⁹ but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, put not on two coats. ¹⁰ And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. ¹¹ And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them. ¹² And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.