Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Prophet’s Call

2 Then He said to me, “Son of man, ^(A)stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” ² And as He spoke to me the ^(B)Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. ³ Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have ^(C)rebelled against Me; ^(D)they and their fathers have revolted against Me to this very day. ⁴ So I am sending you to those who are ^[a](E)impudent and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Lord ^[b]God says:’ ⁵ As for them, ^(F)whether they listen or ^[c]not—for they are a rebellious house—they will ^(G)know that a prophet has been among them.

Prayer for the Lord’s Help.

A Song of Ascents.

² I know a man ^(A)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(B)God knows—such a man was ^(C)caught up to the ^(D)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(E)God knows— ⁴ was ^(F)caught up into ^(G)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (H)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(I)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(J)foolish, ^(K)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(L)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(M)thorn in the flesh, a ^(N)messenger of Satan to ^[a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(O)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(P)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(Q)boast ^[b]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(R)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[c]insults, in ^(S)distresses, in ^(T)persecutions, in ^(U)difficulties, ^(V)in behalf of Christ; for ^(W)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Teaching at Nazareth

6 ^(A)Jesus went out from there and *came into ^[a](B)His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. ² And when the Sabbath came, He began ^(C)to teach in the synagogue; and ^[b]the ^(D)many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man learn these things, and what is this wisdom that has been given to Him, and such ^[c]miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is this not ^(E)the carpenter, ^(F)the son of Mary and brother of ^[d]James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are ^(G)His sisters not here with us?” And they took ^(H)offense at Him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “^(I)A prophet is not dishonored except in ^[e](J)his hometown and among his own relatives, and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could not do any ^[f]miracle there except that He ^(K)laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He was amazed at their unbelief.

^(L)And He was going around the villages, teaching.

The Twelve Sent Out

^7 (M)And ^(N)He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out ^(O)in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ^8 (P)and He instructed them that they were to take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no ^[g]bag, no money in their belt— ⁹ but ^[h]to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not wear two ^[i]tunics.” ¹⁰ And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you ^[j]leave town. ¹¹ Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, ^(Q)shake the dust ^[k]off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them.” ^12 (R)And they went out and ^[l]preached that people are to repent. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and ^(S)were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.