Seventh Sunday of Easter

16Verse 16. One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17Verse 17. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” 18Verse 18. She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. 19Verse 19. When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. 20Verse 20. They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil 21Verse 21. by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” 22Verse 22. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. 23Verse 23. And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. 24Verse 24. On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25Verse 25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Verse 26. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27Verse 27. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. 28Verse 28. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” 29Verse 29. Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Verse 30. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31Verse 31. They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32Verse 32. Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. 33Verse 33. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. 34Verse 34. Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

12Verse 12. “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13Verse 13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 14Verse 14. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 16Verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.” 17Verse 17. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely. 20Verse 20. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21Verse 21. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

20Verse 20. I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21Verse 21. that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22Verse 22. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one — 23Verse 23. I in them and You in Me — that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me. 24Verse 24. Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25Verse 25. Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. 26Verse 26. And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”