Acts 19.1-8
(Epistle, Forerunner)
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.
2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
7They were about twelve men in all.
8He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.
Titus 1.15-2.10
(Epistle)
15To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
16They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
1But say the things which fit sound doctrine,
2that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance,
3and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good,
4that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children,
5to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
6Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded.
7In all things show yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,
8and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting,
10not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.
John 1.29-34
(Gospel, Forerunner)
29The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
31I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”
32John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
33I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
34I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Luke 20.19-26
(Gospel)
19The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.
20They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?
24Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
25He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.