FIRST
READING: Acts 12:
1 - 11
1
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who
belonged to the church.
2
He killed James the brother of John with the sword;
3
and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest
Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him
to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover
to bring him out to the people.
5
So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to
God by the church.
6
The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries
before the door were guarding the prison;
7
and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the
cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get
up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
8
And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your
sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your
mantle around you and follow me."
9
And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done
by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10
When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the
iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord,
and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately
the angel left him.
11
And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the
Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and
from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
PSALM:
Psalms 34: 2 - 9
2
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be
glad.
3
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my
fears.
5
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all
his troubles.
7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers
them.
8
O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes
refuge in him!
9
O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!
SECOND
READING: 2 Timothy 4:
6 - 8, 17 - 18
6
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my
departure has come.
7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith.
8
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not
only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
17
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message
fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the
lion's mouth.
18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly
kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 16: 13 - 19
13
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he
asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?"
14
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah,
and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16
Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God."
17
And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For
flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven.
18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven."
