29 June 2025
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Acts 12:1-11
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
About that time
King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.
After he saw that it pleased the Jews,
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
(This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)
When he had seized him, he put him in prison
and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him,
intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
While Peter was kept in prison,
the church prayed fervently to God for him.
The very night before Herod was going to bring him out,
Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers,
while guards in front of the door were keeping watch
over the prison.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and woke him,
saying, ‘Get up quickly.’
And the chains fell off his wrists.
The angel said to him,
‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’
He did so. Then he said to him,
‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’
Peter went out and followed him;
he did not realize
that what was happening with the angel’s help was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
After they had passed the first and the second guard,
they came before the iron gate leading into the city.
It opened for them of its own accord,
and they went outside and walked along a lane,
when suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said,
‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel
and rescued me from the hands of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’
2 Timothy 2:19-25
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription:
‘The Lord knows those who are his’, and,
‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.’
In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver
but also of wood and clay,
some for special use, some for ordinary.
All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils,
dedicated and useful to the owner of the house,
ready for every good work.
Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness,
faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies;
you know that they breed quarrels.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone,
an apt teacher, patient,
correcting opponents with gentleness.
God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,
Matthew 6:13-19
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples,
‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’
And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist,
but others Elijah,
and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’
Simon Peter answered,
‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
And Jesus answered him,
‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my Father in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
