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 by which she predicted the future.(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[a] a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.
Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.(B)
19 When her owners realized 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 The crowd 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 severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 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 standing 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 we’re all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (H)
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(I) 32 And they spoke the word 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 come to believe in 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 total 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 the whole earth.(E)
7 All who serve carved images,
those who boast in worthless idols, will be put to shame.(H)
All the gods[a] must worship him.(I)
12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me(A) to repay each person according to his work.(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 for the churches. I am the Root(A) and descendant of David,(B) the bright morning star.”(C)
17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.(D)
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one,(A) as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.(B) May they also be[a] in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory(C) you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me,(D) so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved(E) them as you have loved me.(F)
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,(G) so that 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 they have known that you sent me. 26 I made your name(I) known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”(J)
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