Scripture Readings

The First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Baptism of the Lord
For Year A

The color for the Baptism of the Lord is white or gold

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
     my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
     and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
     or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
     and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
     he will not falter or be discouraged
     till he establishes justice on earth.
     In his law the islands will put their hope.”
This is what God the LORD says—
     he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
     who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
     and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
     I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
     to be a covenant for the people
     and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
     to free captives from prison
     and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the LORD; that is my name!
     I will not give my glory to another
     or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
     and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
     I announce them to you.”
—Isaiah 42:1-9, NIV

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Psalm

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
     worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
     the God of glory thunders,
     the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
     the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
     the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
     Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD strikes
     with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
     the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
     and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
     The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
     the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people;
     the LORD blesses his people with peace.
—Psalm 29, NIV

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Epistle

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
—Acts 10:34-43, NIV

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Gospel

     Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
     Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
     As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
—Matthew 3:13-17, NIV

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