The
Resurrection of the Lord
Easter
Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
FIRST
READING: Genesis
1:1–31 – 2:2 Or
Genesis 1:1, 26-31
1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face
of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the
waters.
3
And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4
And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from
the darkness.
5
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there
was evening and there was morning, one day.
6
And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
7
And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under
the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it
was so.
8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there
was morning, a second day.
9
And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered
together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it
was so.
10
God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered
together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11
And God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants
yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed,
each according to its kind, upon the earth." And it was so.
12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to
their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
13
And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14
And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the
heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs
and for seasons and for days and years,
15
and let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light
upon the earth." And it was so.
16
And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day,
and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also.
17
And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon
the earth,
18
to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light
from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19
And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20
And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living
creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of
the heavens."
21
So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that
moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and
every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was
good.
22
And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill
the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
23
And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24
And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures
according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of
the earth according to their kinds." And it was so.
25
And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the
cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the
ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.
28
And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every
living thing that moves upon the earth."
29
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding
seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with
seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.
30
And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath
of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was
so.
31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very
good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
1
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of
them.
2
And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and
he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.
Or
1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.
28
And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every
living thing that moves upon the earth."
29
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding
seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with
seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.
30
And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath
of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was
so.
31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very
good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
PSALM:
Psalms 104:1-2, 5-6,
12-14, 24, 35 Or
Psalms 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, thou art very great! Thou
art clothed with honor and majesty,
2
who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who hast stretched
out the heavens like a tent,
5
Thou didst set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never
be shaken.
6
Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood
above the mountains.
12
By them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among
the branches.
13
From thy lofty abode thou waterest the mountains; the earth is
satisfied with the fruit of thy work.
14
Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man
to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth,
24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them
all; the earth is full of thy creatures.
35
Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no
more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!
Or
4
For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in
faithfulness.
5
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the
steadfast love of the LORD.
6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by
the breath of his mouth.
7
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in
storehouses.
12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has
chosen as his heritage!
13
The LORD looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men;
20
Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21
Yea, our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22
Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee.
SECOND
READING: Genesis
22:1–18 Or
Genesis 22:1-2,
9-13, 15-18
1
After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here am I."
2
He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
3
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two
of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for
the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had
told him.
4
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar
off.
5
Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I
and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
6
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac
his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went
both of them together.
7
And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he
said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire
and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8
Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt
offering, my son." So they went both of them together.
9
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built
an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,
and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10
Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11
But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
12
He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him;
for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your
son, your only son, from me."
13
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was
a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took
the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14
So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it
is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be
provided."
15
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from
heaven,
16
and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you
have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17
I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the
stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your
descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies,
18
and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless
themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
Or
1
After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here am I."
2
He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
9
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built
an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,
and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10
Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11
But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
12
He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him;
for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your
son, your only son, from me."
13
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was
a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took
the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
15
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from
heaven,
16
and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you
have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17
I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the
stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your
descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies,
18
and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless
themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
PSALM
2: Psalms
16: 5, 8-11
5
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.
8
I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells
secure.
10
For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the
Pit.
11
Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness
of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
THIRD
READING: Exodus
14:15 – 15:1
15
The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people
of Israel to go forward.
16
Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide
it, that the people of Israel may go on dry ground through the sea.
17
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go
in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host,
his chariots, and his horsemen.
18
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten
glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."
19
Then the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and
went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and
stood behind them,
20
coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there
was the cloud and the darkness; and the night passed without one
coming near the other all night.
21
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove
the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry
land, and the waters were divided.
22
And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry
ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on
their left.
23
The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the
sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24
And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud
looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host
of the Egyptians,
25
clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the
Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel; for the LORD
fights for them against the Egyptians."
26
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the
sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their
chariots, and upon their horsemen."
27
So Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned
to its wonted flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled
into it, and the LORD routed the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all
the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not so much
as one of them remained.
29
But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the
waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians;
and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
31
And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did against the
Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the
LORD and in his servant Moses.
1
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD,
saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed
gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
PSALM
3: Exodus
15:1-6, 17-18
1
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD,
saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed
gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2
The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will
exalt him.
3
The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.
4
"Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea; and his
picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea.
5
The floods cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
6
Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, thy right hand, O LORD,
shatters the enemy.
17
Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them on thy own mountain, the
place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thy abode, the sanctuary,
LORD, which thy hands have established.
18
The LORD will reign for ever and ever."
FOURTH
READING: Isaiah
54:5-14
5
For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth
he is called.
6
For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in
spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God.
7
For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will
gather you.
8
In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with
everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your
Redeemer.
9
"For this is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the
waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that
I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
10
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my
steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace
shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
11
"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I
will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with
sapphires.
12
I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and
all your wall of precious stones.
13
All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the
prosperity of your sons.
14
In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from
oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not
come near you.
PSALM
4: Psalms
30:2, 4-6, 11-13
2
O LORD my God, I cried to thee for help, and thou hast healed me.
4
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his
holy name.
5
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6
As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
11
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my
sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12
that my soul may praise thee and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will
give thanks to thee for ever.
FIFTH
READING: Isaiah
55:1-11
1
"Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has
no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money
and without price.
2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your
labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and
eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
3
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and
I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love
for David.
4
Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander
for the peoples.
5
Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that
knew you not shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6
"Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is
near;
7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
says the LORD.
9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return
not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not
return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and
prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
PSALM
5: Isaiah
12:2-6
2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be
afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has
become my salvation."
3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4
And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call
upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that
his name is exalted.
5
"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this
be known in all the earth.
6
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your
midst is the Holy One of Israel."
SIXTH
READING: Baruch
3:9-15, 32-37 – 4:1-4
9
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; give ear, and learn wisdom!
10
Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your
enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are
defiled with the dead,
11
that you are counted among those in Hades?
12
You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
13
If you had walked in the way of God, you would be dwelling in peace
for ever.
14
Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is
understanding, that you may at the same time discern where there is
length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and
peace.
15
Who has found her place? And who has entered her storehouses?
32
But he who knows all things knows her, he found her by his
understanding. He who prepared the earth for all time filled it with
four-footed creatures;
33
he who sends forth the light, and it goes, called it, and it obeyed
him in fear;
34
the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; he called them, and
they said, "Here we are!" They shone with gladness for him
who made them.
35
This is our God; no other can be compared to him!
36
He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to Jacob his
servant and to Israel whom he loved.
37
Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among men.
1
She is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures
for ever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her
will die.
2
Turn, O Jacob, and take her; walk toward the shining of her light.
3
Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien
people.
4
Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.
SIXTH
PSALM: Psalms
19:8-11
8
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of
the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter
also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is
great reward.
SEVENTH
READING: Ezekiel
36:16-28
16
The word of the LORD came to me:
17
"Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land,
they defiled it by their ways and their doings; their conduct before
me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.
18
So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had shed
in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it.
19
I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through
the countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I
judged them.
20
But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned
my holy name, in that men said of them, `These are the people of the
LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.'
21
But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel caused
to be profaned among the nations to which they came.
22
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD:
It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act,
but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the
nations to which you came.
23
And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been
profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them;
and the nations will know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when
through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
24
For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the
countries, and bring you into your own land.
25
I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all
your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
26
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you;
and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh.
27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my
statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.
28
You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you
shall be my people, and I will be your God.
SEVENTH
PSALM: Psalms
42:3, 5 – 43:3–4
(When Baptism Is
Celebrated)
Isaiah
12:2–6 Or
Psalms 51:12-15,
18–19 (When
Baptism Is Not Celebrated)
When
Baptism Is Celebrated
3
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me
continually, "Where is your God?"
5
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within
me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help
3
Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring
me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling!
4
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I
will praise thee with the lyre, O God, my God.
When
Baptism Is Not Celebrated
2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be
afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has
become my salvation."
3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4
And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call
upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that
his name is exalted.
5
"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this
be known in all the earth.
6
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your
midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Or
12
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing
spirit.
13
Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to
thee.
14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and
my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
15
O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
18
Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19
then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and
whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on thy altar.
EPISTLE:
Romans 6:3-11
3
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death?
4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too
might walk in newness of life.
5
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6
We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful
body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
7
For he who has died is freed from sin.
8
But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with him.
9
For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die
again; death no longer has dominion over him.
10
The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives
he lives to God.
11
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in
Christ Jesus.
EIGHTH
PSALM: Psalms
118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
1
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures
for ever!
2
Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
16
the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD
does valiantly!"
17
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
22
The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the
corner.
23
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
GOSPEL:
Luke 24:1-12
1
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the
tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.
2
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3
but when they went in they did not find the body.
4
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them
in dazzling apparel;
5
and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the
men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6
Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7
that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified, and on the third day rise."
8
And they remembered his words,
9
and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to
all the rest.
10
Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James
and the other women with them who told this to the apostles;
11
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe
them.
12
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw
the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what
had happened.
