Daily Readings - 25/07/2026

^4:33 The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.

^5:27 When they had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation.

^5:28 ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’

^5:29 In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;

^5:30 it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree.[*a]

^5:31 By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.

^5:32 We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

^5:33 This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.

^12:2 He beheaded James the brother of John,

^66:1 Acclaim God, all the earth,

^66:2 play music to the glory of his name, glorify him with your praises,

^66:3 say to God, ‘What dread you inspire!’ Your achievements are the measure of your power. Your enemies cringe in your presence;

^66:4 all the earth bows down to you, playing music for you, playing in honour of your name. (pause)

^66:5 Come and see what marvels God has done, so much to be feared for his deeds among mankind:

^66:6 he turned the sea into dry land, they crossed the river on foot! So let us rejoice in him,

^66:7 who rules for ever by his power: his eyes keep watch on the nations, let no rebel raise his head! (pause)

^66:8 You nations, bless our God and make his praise resound,

^66:9 who brings our soul to life and keeps our feet from faltering.

^66:10 You tested us, God, you refined us like silver,

^66:11 you let us fall into the net, you laid heavy burdens on our backs,

^66:12 you let people drive over our heads; but now the ordeal by fire and water is over, and you allow us once more to draw breath.

^66:13 I bring holocausts to your house, I bring them to fulfil those vows

^66:14 that rose to my lips, those vows I spoke when in trouble.

^66:15 I offer you fat holocausts and the smoke of burning rams, I offer you bullocks and he-goats.

^66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, while I tell you what he has done for me:

^66:17 when I uttered my cry to him and high praise was on my tongue,

^66:18 had I been guilty in my heart, the Lord would never have heard me.

^66:19 But God not only heard me, he listened to my prayer.

^66:20 Blessed be God, who neither ignored my prayer nor deprived me of his love.

^4:7 We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.

^4:8 We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair;

^4:9 we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed;

^4:10 always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body.

^4:11 Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown.

^4:12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

^4:13 But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke[*a] – we too believe and therefore we too speak,

^4:14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us.

^4:15 You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

^20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low;

^20:21 and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom’.

^20:22 ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can’.

^20:23 ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup[*a], but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’

^20:24 When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers.

^20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt.

^20:26 This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant,

^20:27 and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave,

^20:28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’