Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction.[a](A) She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you[b] the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days.
But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.[c](B)
19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(C) and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”(D)
22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.(E) 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.(F)
A Midnight Deliverance
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.(G) 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”
29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(H)
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(I) 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.(J)
Psalm 97
The Majestic King
1 The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coasts and islands be glad.(A)
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.(B)
3 Fire goes before Him
and burns up His foes on every side.(C)
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.(D)
5 The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the Lord—
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.(E)
7 All who serve carved images,
those who boast in idols, will be put to shame.(H)
All the gods[a] must worship Him.(I)
12 “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me(A) to repay each person according to what he has done.(B) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(C) the First and the Last,(D) the Beginning and the End.(E)
14 “Blessed(F) are those who wash their robes,[a] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you[a] for the churches. I am the Root(A) and the Offspring of David,(B) the Bright Morning Star.”(C)
17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.(D)
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 I pray not only for these,
but also for those who believe in Me
through their message.
21 May they all be one,(A)
as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.(B)
May they also be one[a] in Us,
so the world may believe You sent Me.
22 I have given them the glory(C) You have given Me.
May they be one as We are one.
23 I am in them and You are in Me.(D)
May they be made completely one,
so the world may know You have sent Me
and have loved(E) them as You have loved Me.(F)
24 Father,
I desire those You have given Me
to be with Me where I am.(G)
Then they will see My glory,
which You have given Me
because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
25 Righteous Father!
The world has not known You.
However, I have known You,(H)
and these have known that You sent Me.
26 I made Your name(I) known to them
and will make it known,
so the love You have loved Me with
may be in them and I may be in them.(J)
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