Daily Readings - 12/05/2026

^16:22 The crowd joined in and showed their hostility to them, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be flogged.

^16:23 They were given many lashes and then thrown into prison, and the gaoler was told to keep a close watch on them.

^16:24 So, following his instructions, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

^16:25 Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened.

^16:26 Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners.

^16:27 When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.

^16:28 But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here’.

^16:29 The gaoler called for lights, then rushed in, threw himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas,

^16:30 and escorted them out, saying, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’

^16:31 They told him, ‘Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too’.

^16:32 Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his family.

^16:33 Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there with all his household.

^16:34 Afterwards he took them home and gave them a meal, and the whole family celebrated their conversion to belief in God.

^138:1 I thank you, Yahweh, with all my heart, because you have heard what I said. In the presence of the angels I play for you,

^138:2 and bow down towards your holy Temple. I give thanks to your name for your love and faithfulness; your promise is even greater than your fame.

^138:3 The day I called for help, you heard me and you increased my strength.

^138:4 Yahweh, all kings on earth give thanks to you, for they have heard your promises;

^138:5 they celebrate Yahweh’s actions, ‘Great is the glory of Yahweh!’

^138:6 From far above, Yahweh sees the humble, from far away he marks down the arrogant.

^138:7 Though I live surrounded by trouble, you keep me alive-to my enemies’ fury! You stretch your hand out and save me, your right hand

^138:8 will do everything for me. Yahweh, your love is everlasting, do not abandon us whom you have made.

^16:5 but now I am going to the one who sent me. Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?”

^16:6 Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this.

^16:7 Still, I must tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you.

^16:8 And when he comes, he will show the world how wrong it was, about sin, and about who was in the right, and about judgement:

^16:9 about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;

^16:10 about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more;

^16:11 about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.