Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Lord Our Protector
A song of ascents.
121 I lift my eyes towards the mountains.
Where will my help come from?(A)
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(B)
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.(C)
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.(D)
5 The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.[a](E)
6 The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.(F)
7 The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.(G)
8 The Lord will protect your coming and going
both now and for ever.(H)
26 Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads.(A) On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human.(B) 27 From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all round.(C) From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. 28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day.(D) This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory.(E) When I saw it, I fell face down and heard a voice speaking.(F)
Mission to Rebellious Israel
2 He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand up on your feet(G) and I will speak with you.’
Paul’s Defence before Agrippa
26 Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’
Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence: 2 ‘I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defence today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 ‘All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.(A) 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.(B) 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope(C) in what God promised(D) to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.(E) 8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(F) 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.(G) 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme.(H) Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission
12 ‘I was travelling to Damascus under(I) these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those travelling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic,[a] “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”(J)
15 ‘I asked, “Who are you, Lord? ”
‘And the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(K) 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them(L) 18 to open their eyes(M) so that they may turn[b] from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”(N)
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