Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.(A) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends[a] of the earth.”(B)
The Ascension
9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.(C) 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”(D)
United in Prayer
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room(E) upstairs where they were staying:
Peter, John,
James, Andrew,
Philip, Thomas,
Bartholomew, Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot,
and Judas the son of James.(F)
14 All these were continually united(G) in prayer,[b] along with the women, including Mary[c] the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.(H)
Psalm 68
God’s Majestic Power
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.
1 God arises. His enemies scatter,
and those who hate Him flee from His presence.(A)
2 As smoke is blown away,
so You blow them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.(B)
3 But the righteous are glad;
they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.(C)
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.
Exalt Him who rides on the clouds[a] —
His name is Yahweh[b]—and rejoice before Him.(D)
5 God in His holy dwelling is
a father of the fatherless
and a champion of widows.(E)
6 God provides homes for those who are deserted.
He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,[c]
but the rebellious live in a scorched land.(F)
7 God, when You went out before Your people,
when You marched through the desert,
8 the earth trembled and the skies poured down rain
before God, the God of Sinai,[d]
before God, the God of Israel.(G)
9 You, God, showered abundant rain;
You revived Your inheritance when it languished.(H)
10 Your people settled in it;
God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness.(I)
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
sing praise to the Lord,(A)
33 to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens.(B)
Look, He thunders with His powerful voice!(C)
34 Ascribe power to God.
His majesty is over Israel,
His power among the clouds.(D)
35 God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.
May God be praised!(E)
Christian Suffering
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal[a] comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.(A) 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah,(B) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation(C) of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,(D) you are blessed, because the Spirit(E) of glory and of God rests on you.[b]
6 Humble(A) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand(B) of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,[a] 7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.(C)
Conclusion
8 Be serious!(D) Be alert!(E) Your adversary the Devil(F) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him(G) and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
10 Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory(H) in Christ Jesus, will personally[b] restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.[c] 11 The dominion[d] belongs to Him forever.[e] Amen.
Jesus Prays for Himself
17 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said:
Father,
the hour has come.
Glorify Your Son
so that the Son(A) may glorify You,(B)
2 for You gave Him authority
over all flesh;[a](C)
so He may give eternal life(D)
to all You have given Him.(E)
3 This is eternal life:
that they may know You, the only(F) true(G) God,
and the One You have sent(H)—Jesus Christ.(I)
4 I have glorified You on the earth
by completing the work You gave Me to do.
5 Now, Father,(J) glorify Me in Your presence
with that glory(K) I had with You
before the world existed.(L)
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 I have revealed Your name(M)
to the men You gave Me(N) from the world.(O)
They were Yours, You gave them to Me,(P)
and they have kept Your word.(Q)
7 Now they know that all things
You have given to Me are from You,
8 because the words that You gave Me,(R)
I have given them.
They have received them
and have known for certain
that I came from You.(S)
They have believed that You sent Me.
9 I pray[b] for them.
I am not praying for the world
but for those You have given Me,(T)
because they are Yours.
10 Everything I have is Yours,
and everything You have is Mine,(U)
and I have been glorified in them.
11 I am no longer in the world,
but they are in the world,
and I am coming to You.(V)
Holy(W) Father,
protect[c] them by Your name(X)
that You have given Me,
so that they may be one(Y) as We are(Z) one.
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