First Reading

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 16:22-34

In those days, the people of the city of Philippi rose up against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After beating them severely, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. Following this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to the Lord, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken; the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open wide, he thought the prisoners had escaped and drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted, «Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!» The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and trembling with fear, fell at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, «What must I do to be saved?» They replied, «Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.» And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

The jailer took them aside and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. He brought them up into his house and set food before them; and he and his entire family rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

John 16:5-11

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.»