June 29, 2023 :: Evening Prayer
Saint Peter's Day
Here beginneth the 19th chapter of Sirach.
A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.
Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he that cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.
Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall be taken away.
He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that sinneth shall offend against his own soul.
Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.
He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.
Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse.
Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.
For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.
A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.
As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh, so is a word within a fool's belly.
Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.
Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.
Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.
There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?
Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.
The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him, and wisdom obtaineth his love.
The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.
The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.
If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.
There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.
He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment.
There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.
A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him.
A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 4th chapter of Acts.
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.