Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C

¹⁶ As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. ¹⁷ Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” ¹⁸ She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. ²⁰ When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city ²¹ and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” ²² The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, ²⁴ who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured 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 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. ²⁷ The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!” ²⁹ He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, ³⁰ brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. ³³ He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. ³⁴ He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.

¹ The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! ² Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. ³ A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side. ⁴ His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles. ⁵ The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. ⁶ The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory. ⁷ Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! ⁸ Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, the LORD. ⁹ For you, O LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. ¹⁰ You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. ¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. ¹² Be glad in the LORD, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.

¹² “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ¹⁴ Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

¹⁶ I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” ¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

²⁰ He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. ²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.