Jer. 27:12–22

27:12 I told King Zedekiah of Judah the same thing. I said, “Submit to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon. Be subject to him and his people. Then you will continue to live. 13There is no reason why you and your people should die in war or from starvation or disease. That’s what the Lord says will happen to any nation that will not be subject to the king of Babylon. 14‘Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you. 15For I, the Lord, affirm that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. If you listen to them, I will drive you and the prophets who are prophesying lies out of the land and you will all die in exile.’”

16I also told the priests and all the people, “The Lord says, ‘Do not listen to what your prophets are saying. They are prophesying to you that the valuable articles taken from the Lord’s temple will be brought back from Babylon very soon. But they are prophesying a lie to you. 17Do not listen to them. Be subject to the king of Babylon. Then you will continue to live. Why should this city be made a pile of rubble?’” 18I also told them, “If they are really prophets and the Lord is speaking to them, let them pray earnestly to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Let them plead with him not to let the valuable articles that are still left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem be taken away to Babylon. 19For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has already spoken about the two bronze pillars, the large bronze basin called ‘The Sea,’ and the movable bronze stands. He has already spoken about the rest of the valuable articles that are left in this city. 20He has already spoken about these things that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon did not take away when he carried Jehoiakim’s son King Jeconiah of Judah and the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem away as captives from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21Indeed, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, has already spoken about the valuable articles that are left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 22He has said, ‘They will be carried off to Babylon. They will remain there until it is time for me to show consideration for them again. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place. I, the Lord, affirm this!’

Ps. 2

2:1 Why do the nations rebel?

Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

2The kings of the earth form a united front;

the rulers collaborate

against the Lord and his anointed king.

3They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us.

Let’s free ourselves from their ropes.”

4The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust;

the Lord taunts them.

5Then he angrily speaks to them

and terrifies them in his rage, saying,

6“I myself have installed my king

on Zion, my holy hill.”

7The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me:

‘You are my son. This very day I have become your father.

8Ask me,

and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

the ends of the earth as your personal property.

9You will break them with an iron scepter;

you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”

10So now, you kings, do what is wise;

you rulers of the earth, submit to correction.

11Serve the Lord in fear.

Repent in terror.

12Give sincere homage.

Otherwise he will be angry,

and you will die because of your behavior,

when his anger quickly ignites.

How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

Acts 16:25–40

16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul called out loudly, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. 33At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set food before them, and he rejoiced greatly that he had come to believe in God, together with his entire household. 35At daybreak the magistrates sent their police officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul said to the police officers, “They had us beaten in public without a proper trial—even though we are Roman citizens—and they threw us in prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! They themselves must come and escort us out!” 38The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas were Roman citizens 39and came and apologized to them. After they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly to leave the city. 40When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then departed.