Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy
Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him
earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops
and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people
obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown
of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xii. 1.
About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex
certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John
with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened
bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison,
and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him,
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter
therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing
of the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought
him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the
prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a
light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and
raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off
from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and
bind on thy sandals: and so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast
thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out and followed
him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but
thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the
second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the
city, which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out,
and passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departed
from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know
of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered
me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xvi. 13.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And
they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias,
and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them,
But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou
art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said
unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven.
SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE _July_ 25.