The Book of Common Prayer Table of
contents
Wednesday before Easter
The Epistle
Hebrews 9.16-end
Where a testament
is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator: for
a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no
strength at all whilst the testator liveth. Whereupon, neither the
first testament was dedicated without blood: for when Moses had
spoken every precept to all the people, according to the law, he
took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool
and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying,
This is the blood of the testament, which God hath enjoined unto
you. Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all
the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law
purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not
entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures
of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the
high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of
others: for then must he often have suffered since the foundation
of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed
unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: so Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for
him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The Gospel
St. Luke 22.1-end
Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the
chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they
feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot,
being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and
communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray
him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him
money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto
them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of
unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent
Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may
eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And
he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there
shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into
the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good-man
of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the
guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
And he shall shew you a large upper-room furnished; there make
ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they
made ready the passover. And when the hour was come he sat down,
and the twelve Apostles with him. And he said unto them, With
desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I
suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until
it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and
gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves.
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine,
until the Kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave
thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body,
which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also
the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my
blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that
betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of Man
goeth as it was determined; but woe unto that man by whom he is
betrayed. And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them
it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among
them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said
unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him
be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is
not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I
appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said,
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may
sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he
said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison
and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not
crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest
me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and
scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then
said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it,
and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his
garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, That this that is written
must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the
transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they
said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It
is enough. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount
of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at
the place, he said unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into
temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast,
and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing,
remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be
done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly;
and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to
the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his
disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them,
Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And
while he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called
Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto
Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou
the Son of Man with a kiss? When they who were about him saw what
would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the
sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and
cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus
far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto
the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders who
were come to him, Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords
and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched
forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of
darkness. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the
high priest's house: and Peter followed afar off. And when they had
kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down
together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him,
as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said,
This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I
know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said,
Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the
space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a
truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilaean. And
Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately,
while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked
upon Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had
said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And
Peter went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus
mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they
struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it
that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they
against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people
and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him
into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he
said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I also
ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the
Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said
they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye
say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for
we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.