Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

The Vision of the Lord’s Glory

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Kebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

² On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of the captivity of King Jehoiachin, ³ the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And the hand of the Lord was on him there.

⁴ As I looked, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually, and a brightness was all around it, and in its midst something as glowing metal in the midst of the fire. ⁵ Also out of the midst came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. ⁶ Every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s hoof. And they gleamed like the color of burnished bronze. ⁸ They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, ⁹ their wings were joined to one another. Their faces did not turn when they went. Each went straight forward.

¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man, and all four had the face of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Thus were their faces. And their wings were stretched upward. Two wings of every one were joined to one another, and two covered their bodies. ¹² Each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit was to go, they would go and not turn as they went. ¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire and like the appearance of lamps. It went up and down among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. ¹⁴ The living creatures ran to and fro as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

¹⁵ Now as I looked at the living creatures, one wheel was on the ground by the living creatures for each of the four faces. ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of sparkling beryl. And all four of them had one likeness. And their appearance and their work was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. ¹⁷ Whenever they went, they went in any of their four sides and did not turn as they went. ¹⁸ As for their rims, they were so high that they were dreadful. And the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around.

¹⁹ Whenever the living creatures went, the wheels went with them. And whenever the living creatures were lifted up from the ground, the wheels also were lifted up. ²⁰ Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them. For the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ Whenever those went, these went. And whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the ground, the wheels rose close beside them. For the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

²² The likeness of the expanse over the heads of the living creatures was as the awesome gleam of crystal, stretched out over their heads above. ²³ Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, the one toward the other. Each one also had two wings which covered its body on the one side and the other. ²⁴ When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of abundant waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the noise of tumult as the noise of an army camp. Whenever they stood still, they let down their wings.

²⁵ There was a voice from the expanse that was over their heads whenever they stood still and let down their wings.

¹⁹ When he had eaten, he was strengthened.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ Immediately he preached in the synagogues that the Christ is the Son of God. ²¹ All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this he who killed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here with that intent, to bring them bound to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul increased all the more with power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.

Saul Escapes from the Jews

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews arranged to kill him. ²⁴ But their scheme was known by Saul. They watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵ But the disciples took him by night, and lowered him in a basket through the wall.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they all feared him, not believing he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and led him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So he stayed with them while coming in and going out of Jerusalem. ²⁹ And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists. But they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.