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St. Peter (and St. Paul), Apostle(s) and Martyr(s)

June 29    

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERMONS AND

COMMENTARY

 

Patristic / Medieval 
Chrysostom (Gospel)

Augustine (Gospel)

 

Catena Aurea (Gospel)

 

Reformation 

Calvin (Gospel)

Calvin (Lesson)
Calvin (Epistle)

 

Caroline Divines 

 
 

Evangelical Revival
Wesley's Notes (Gospel)

Wesley's Notes (Lesson)

Wesley's Notes (Epistle)

 

Oxford Movement 
Williams (Epistle)

Williams (Gospel)

Blunt (Commentary)
 

Recent 
Crouse (St. Peter)

 

 

Other

Matthew Henry (Gospel)

Matthew Henry (Lesson)

Matthew Henry (Epistle)

 

Additional Materials 

Keble (poem)
 
Links to Images of the saints:

   - Biblical Art on the WWW

          - St. Peter

          - St. Paul

   - Textweek

          - St. Peter

          - St. Paul

 

 

 

In the 1662 Book of Common Prayer June 29 is a commemoration only of St. Peter the Apostle (see Blunt's Commentary on the origin of the feast of the two apostles).  That is why the first Collect below refers only to St. Peter.

 

THE COLLECT.  

O 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.

 

The Canadian 1962 BCP includes the following additional Collect since it commemorates the two apostles:

O GOD, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his manifold labours in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

THE LESSON.   Acts 12. 1.

Now 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 Canadian 1962 BCP appoints the following Epistle in place of the above Lesson because it commemorates both apostles:

1 St Peter 1. 1.

PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

 

THE GOSPEL.    St Matthew 16. 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 Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon son of John: 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.

 

 

 

 

INTROIT.  Ps 87 or 18:1-7 

 

Ps 87

HIS foundation is upon the holy hills: / the LORD loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2 Very excellent things are spoken of thee, / thou city of God.
3 I WILL make mention of Rahab and Babylon, / as among them that know me.
4 Behold Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia; / lo, this one was born there.
5 Yea, of Sion it shall be said, 'This one and that one were born in her'; / and the Most High himself shall establish her.
6 The LORD shall reckon when he writeth up the peoples, / that this one was born there.
7 THE singers also and dancers shall say, / 'All my fresh springs are in thee.'

Glory be.

 

Ps 18:1-7

I LOVE thee, O LORD, my strength. / The LORD is my stony rock, my defence, and my Saviour;
2 My God, and my might, in whom I will trust; / my shield, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; / so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 THE waves of death compassed me, / and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The cords of hell came about me; / the snares of death overtook me.
6 In my trouble I called upon the LORD, / and complained unto my God.
7 So he heard my voice out of his holy temple, / and my complaint before him entered into his ears.

Glory be.

 

GRADUAL.  Ps 31:1-4 or 80:14-15   

 
Ps 31:1-4

IN thee, O LORD, have I put my trust; / let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; / make haste to deliver me,
3 And be thou my strong rock and house of defence, / that thou mayest save me.
4 For thou art my strong rock and my castle: / be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name's sake.

 

Ps 80:14-15

14 Turn us again, O God of hosts; / show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
15 LOOK down from heaven, behold, and visit this vine, and the stock that thy right hand hath planted, / and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.