Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

First vision

1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, I was with the exiles at the Chebar River when the heavens opened and I saw visions of God. ² (It happened on the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year after King Jehoiachin’s deportation. ³ The Lord’s word burst in on the priest Ezekiel, Buzi’s son, in the land of Babylon at the Chebar River. There the Lord’s power overcame him.)

⁴ As I watched, suddenly a driving storm came out of the north, a great cloud flashing fire, with brightness all around. At its center, in the middle of the fire, there was something like gleaming amber. ⁵ And inside that were forms of four living creatures. This was what they looked like: Each had the form of a human being, ⁶ though each had four faces and four wings. ⁷ Their feet looked like proper feet, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ hooves, and they shone like burnished bronze. ⁸ Human hands were under their wings on all four sides. All four creatures had faces and wings, and ⁹ their wings touched each other’s wings. When they moved, they each went straight ahead without turning. ¹⁰ As for the form of their faces: each of the four had a human face, with a lion’s face on the right and a bull’s face on the left, and also an eagle’s face. ¹¹ The pairs of wings^[a] that stretched out overhead touched each other, while the other pairs covered their bodies. ¹² Each moved straight ahead wherever the wind propelled them; they moved without turning. ¹³ Regarding the creatures’ forms: they looked like blazing coals, like torches. Fire darted about between the creatures and illuminated them, and lightning flashed from the fire. ¹⁴ The creatures looked like lightning streaking back and forth.

¹⁵ As I looked at the creatures, suddenly there was a wheel on the earth corresponding to all four faces of the creatures. ¹⁶ The appearance and composition of the wheels were like sparkling topaz. There was one shape for all four of them, as if one wheel were inside another. ¹⁷ When they moved in any of the four directions, they moved without swerving. ¹⁸ Their rims were tall and terrifying, because all four of them were filled with eyes all around. ¹⁹ When the creatures moved, the wheels moved next to them. Whenever the creatures rose above the earth, the wheels also rose up. ²⁰ Wherever the wind would appear to go, the wind would make them go there too. The wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit^[b] of the creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ When they moved, the wheels^[c] moved; when they stood still, the wheels stood still; and when they rose above the earth, the wheels rose up along with them, because the spirit^[d] of the creatures was in the wheels.

²² The shape above the heads of the creatures^[e] was a dome; it was like glittering ice stretched out over their heads. ²³ Just below the dome, their outstretched wings touched each other. They each also had two wings to cover their bodies. ²⁴ Then I heard the sound of their wings when they moved forward. It was like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of the Almighty,^[f] like the sound of tumult or the sound of an army camp. When they stood still, their wings came to rest. ²⁵ Then there was a sound from above the dome over their heads. They stood still, and their wings came to rest.

²⁶ Above the dome over their heads, there appeared something like lapis lazuli in the form of a throne. Above the form of the throne there was a form that looked like a human being. ²⁷ Above what looked like his waist, I saw something like gleaming amber, something like fire enclosing it all around. Below what looked like his waist, I saw something that appeared to be fire. Its brightness shone all around. ²⁸ Just as a rainbow lights up a cloud on a rainy day, so its brightness shone all around. This was how the form of the Lord’s glory appeared. When I saw it, I fell on my face. I heard the sound of someone speaking.

Ezekiel’s commissioning

2 The voice said to me: Human one, stand on your feet, and I’ll speak to you.

²³ Peter invited them into the house as his guests.

The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. ²⁴ They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” ²⁷ As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸ He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. ²⁹ For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. ³¹ He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. ³² Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ ³³ I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”