October 6, 2026

13For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, 14and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. 15But when [God], who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. 20(As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24So they glorified God because of me.

1Psalm 139 The All-knowing and Ever-present God - For the leader. A psalm of David. I - LORD, you have probed me, you know me: 2you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. 13II - You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. 15My bones are not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth.

28He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” The Demand for a Sign.

38As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”