13 April 26 - St Martin 1

0:00The 13th of April, 2026, a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, when they had prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness. In those days, when Peter and John were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them, and when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and everything in them, who threw the mouth of our Father David and your servant said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage and the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the

1:03Lord and against his anointed, for truly in this city. There were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan and pre-testing to take place. And now Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to continue to speak your Word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.

2:05The Word of the Lord A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Beloved, remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound, therefore I endure everything, for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for if we have died with him, we will also live with him.

3:05If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful. Free cannot deny himself. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happen to me at Antioch at Iconium and at Listera. Which persecutions I endured? Right from them all, the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The Word of the Lord.