Daily readings
Epistle
— Saturday after Nativity
weekly cycle
1 Timothy
— 1 Timothy 6.11-16
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;
13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Epistle
Ephesians
— Ephesians 2.11-13
11Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Epistle
— St Stephen
Acts
— Acts 6.8-7.5, 47-60
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
9But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
10And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
11Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
14for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.
15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
15And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
1Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
1And the high priest said, Are these things so?
2And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.
3And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
4Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell:
5and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
5And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
47But Solomon built him a house.
47But Solomon built him an house.
48Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,
48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?
49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50Hath not my hand made all these things?
50Did not my hand make all these things?
51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;
52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
53ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.
54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
54Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
56and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
57But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;
58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
58and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Gospel
— Saturday after Nativity
weekly cycle
Matthew
— Matthew 12.15-21
15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
15And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all,
16And charged them that they should not make him known:
16and charged them that they should not make him known:
17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
18Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
19He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
19He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
20A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
21And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.
Gospel
Luke
— Luke 16.10-15
10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
10He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
14And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.
15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
15And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Gospel
— St Stephen
Matthew
— Matthew 21.33-42
33Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
33Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.
34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
34And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.
35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.
37But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.
38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.
39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
40When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?