Thursday of the 4th week of Easter

13And when Paul and those who were with him had sailed from Paphos, they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Then John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14Yet truly, they, traveling on from Perga, arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down. 15Then, after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: “Noble brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, speak.” 16Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely. 17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there. 18And throughout a time of forty years, he endured their behavior in the desert. 19And by destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land among them by lot, 20after about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges, even until the prophet Samuel. 21And later on, they petitioned for a king. And God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’ 23From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel. 24John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’

2I will sing the mercies of the Lord in eternity. I will announce your truth with my mouth, from generation to generation.

3For you have said: Mercy will be built in the heavens, unto eternity. Your truth will be prepared there.

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21I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.

22For my hand will assist him, and my arm will fortify him.

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25And my truth and my mercy will be with him. And his horn will be exalted in my name.

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27He will invoke me: “You are my father, my God, and the support of my salvation.”

16Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him. 17If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it. 18I am not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me shall lift up his heel against me.’ 19And I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it has happened, you may believe that I am. 20Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives anyone whom I send, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.”