Sunday 23 January 2028

2Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,both men and women,and all who could hear with understanding,on the first day of the seventh month.3He read from it before the wide placethat was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday,in the presence of the men and the women,and of those who could understand.The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.4Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood,which they had made for the purpose;and beside him stood Mattithiah,Shema, Anaiah, Uriah,Hilkiah, and Maaseiah,on his right hand;and on his left hand,Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah,Hashum, Hashbaddanah,Zechariah, and Meshullam.5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people),and when he opened it,all the people stood up.6Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.

All the people answered,“Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands.They bowed their heads,and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.· · · verse 7 is not read8They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly;and they gave the sense,so that they understood the reading.

9Nehemiah, who was the governor,Ezra the priest and scribe,and the Leviteswho taught the people said to all the people,“Today is holy to the Lord your God.Don’t mourn, nor weep.”For all the people weptwhen they heard the words of the law.10Then he said to them, “Go your way.Eat the fat, drink the sweet,and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared,for today is holy to our Lord.Don’t be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

8The Lord’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.The Lord’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.

9The Lord’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.The Lord’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

10The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.The Lord’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

15Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.

12For as the body is one and has many members,and all the members of the body,being many, are one body;so also is Christ.13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,whether Jews or Greeks,whether bond or free;and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

14For the body is not one member, but many.15If the foot would say,“Because I’m not the hand,I’m not part of the body,”it is not therefore not part of the body.16If the ear would say,“Because I’m not the eye,I’m not part of the body,”it’s not therefore not part of the body.17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?18But now God has set the members,each one of them, in the body,just as he desired.19If they were all one member, where would the body be?20But now they are many members, but one body.21The eye can’t tell the hand,“I have no need for you,”or again the head to the feet,“I have no need for you.”22No, much rather, those members of the bodywhich seem to be weaker are necessary.23Those parts of the bodywhich we think to be less honorable,on those we bestow more abundant honor;and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty,24while our presentable parts have no such need.But God composed the body together,giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,25that there should be no division in the body,but that the members should have the same care for one another.26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.When one member is honored,all the members rejoice with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.28God has set some in the assembly:first apostles, second prophets,third teachers, then miracle workers,then gifts of healings,helps, governments,and various kinds of languages.29Are all apostles?Are all prophets?Are all teachers?Are all miracle workers?30Do all have gifts of healings?Do all speak with various languages?Do all interpret?

1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matterswhich have been fulfilled among us,2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnessesand servants of the word delivered them to us,3it seemed good to me also,having traced the course of all things accurately from the first,to write to you in order,most excellent Theophilus;4that you might know the certainty concerning the things inwhich you were instructed.

· · · some verses are not read14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee,and news about him spread through all the surrounding area.15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.He entered, as was his custom,into the synagogue on the Sabbath day,and stood up to read.17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.He opened the book,and found the place where it was written,

18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,to proclaim release to the captives,recovering of sight to the blind,to deliver those who are crushed,19and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20He closed the book,gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.21He began to tell them,“Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”