Epistle Reading: Acts 14:6-18
they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.
And they were preaching the gospel there.
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was
sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and
seeing that he had faith to be healed,
said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And
he leaped and walked.
Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their
voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in
the likeness of men!"
And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he
was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their
city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with
the multitudes.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore
their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are
men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn
from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth,
the sea, and all things that are in them,
"who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in
their own ways.
"Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in
that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling
our hearts with food and gladness."
And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the
multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Gospel Reading: John 7:14-30
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple
and taught.
And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters,
having never studied?"
Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His
who sent Me.
"If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the
doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who
seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is
in Him.
"Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the
law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"
The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking
to kill You?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all
marvel.
"Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from
Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.
"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the
law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a
man completely well on the Sabbath?
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with
righteous judgment."
Then some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom
they seek to kill?
"But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do
the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
"However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ
comes, no one knows where He is from."
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You
both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself,
but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
"But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me."
Then they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him,
because His hour had not yet come.
Saints and Feasts
Mid Pentecost; 2nd Thursday after Pascha; Irene the Great Martyr; Neophytos, Gaius, & Caianus the Monk-martyrs; The Righteous Martyr Ephraim the Younger; Euthymios the Wonderworker, Bishop of Madytos
