Daily Readings

[44] On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. [45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” [48] Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. [49] And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. [50] But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [51] But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. [1] Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. [2] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. [3] Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. [4] But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. [5] And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, [6] they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

[37] Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. [38] Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. [39] And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. [40] So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” [41] Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” [42] And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. [43] And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, [44] “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” [45] But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. [46] Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. [47] And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, [48] and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.” [49] Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” [50] But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

[1] Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: [2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [3] as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, [4] by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [5] But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, [6] to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, [7] to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. [8] For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. [10] Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; [11] for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[31] “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. [32] There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. [33] You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. [34] Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. [35] He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. [36] But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. [37] And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. [38] But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. [39] You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. [40] But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. [41] “I do not receive honor from men. [42] But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. [43] I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. [44] How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? [45] Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. [46] For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

[1] At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. [2] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” [3] But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? [6] Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. [7] But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” [9] Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. [10] And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. [11] Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? [12] Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” [13] Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. [14] Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. [15] But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. [16] Yet He warned them not to make Him known, [17] that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: [18] “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. [19] He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; [21] And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

[35] On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” [36] Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. [38] But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” [39] Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. [40] But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” [41] And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” [1] Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. [2] And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [3] who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, [4] because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. [5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. [6] When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. [7] And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” [8] For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” [9] Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [10] Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. [11] Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. [12] So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” [13] And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. [14] So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. [15] Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. [16] And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. [17] Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. [18] And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. [19] However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” [20] And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.