FIRST READING:
Acts 16: 22 – 34
22
The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the
garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them
into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
24
Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the stocks.
25
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of
the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and
every one's fetters were unfastened.
27
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew
his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners
had escaped.
28
But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we
are all here."
29
And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he
fell down before Paul and Silas,
30
and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be
saved?"
31
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved, you and your household."
32
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in
his house.
33
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds,
and he was baptized at once, with all his family.
34
Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and
he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
PSALM:
Psalms 138: 1 - 3, 7 - 8
1
I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I
sing thy praise;
2
I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy
steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above
everything thy name and thy word.
3
On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou
didst increase.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life;
thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and
thy right hand delivers me.
8
The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD,
endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands.
GOSPEL: John
16: 5 - 11
5
But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me,
`Where are you going?'
6
But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your
hearts.
7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go
away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you;
but if I go, I will send him to you.
8
And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and
righteousness and judgment:
9
concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
10
concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will
see me no more;
11
concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
