Listen To the Bible! | King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version
In Jerusalem, Jesus teaches in the Temple and is tested by the Sadducees and the Pharisees. These are tests concerning Scripture, concerning the Law, and concerning Jesus’ identity, i.e. concerning Jesus being God the Son [ … ]
We can almost feel the crush of people pressing in upon Jesus, treading on each other’s toes and clamouring for a glimpse of him. This great tide of popularity is extraordinary. We are made aware of just how much so many people need something other than what they have – of how many unanswered questions they must have and of the spiritual longing they must experience. They are sheep in want of a shepherd. There is a great vacuum which Jesus comes to fill [ … ]
This ancient Easter homily, by an unknown preacher known as Pseudo-Chrysostom, offers a profound and deeply theological meditation on the meaning of the Christian Passover, that is, the Paschal Mystery — Christ’s death and resurrection — at the very heart of Christian faith and life. In it, the preacher deftly unfolds how the Old Testament prefigurations find their fulfilment in Christ, and how this fulfilment redefines not only salvation history but the daily life of every Christian [ … ]
Saint Augustine’s sermon on Psalm 149, expounding the verse ‘Sing to the Lord a new song’, draws on his deeply theological, philosophical, and pastoral mind to deliver a rich meditation on love, new life in Christ, and the moral integrity of worship. This reading, likely delivered in the context of the Easter season and baptismal catechesis, reflects the tone of joyful renewal that characterizes the liturgical spirit of this time [ … ]
Saint Ambrose begins by recalling the preparatory instruction given during Lent, using Scripture—particularly the patriarchs and Proverbs—as a moral and spiritual guide. This grounding in sacred history was intended to help catechumens internalise the obedience and faithfulness exemplified by their spiritual ancestors. Ambrose thereby affirms that the path of Christian discipleship is a continuation of God’s covenantal relationship with His people [ … ]
Saint Basil the Great’s Treatise on the Holy Spirit was written during a time of doctrinal instability when the Church faced serious challenges regarding the nature and divinity of the Holy Spirit. Basil’s work is both an affirmation of the Spirit’s divine identity and a profound meditation on the Spirit’s activity in creation, revelation and sanctification [ … ]
Hagar’s encounter with the angel of the LORD illustrates how God intervenes in the lives of the oppressed and the outcasts. In her moment of desperation, God reached out to her personally, comforting her and providing guidance for her path. Hagar’s response was profound; she acknowledged that God sees her and cares for her well-being. Despite the hardships she faced, Hagar found reassurance in the divine presence, recognizing that God’s plan was at work even in her struggles [ … ]
The name ‘Uriel’ means ‘God is my light’ or ‘fire of God’ in Hebrew, and Uriel is often depicted holding a flame or a lantern, representing his role as the angel of illumination and divine wisdom. Uriel’s presence is believed to bring clarity and understanding, and his intercession is often sought by those seeking spiritual guidance, wisdom, and discernment [ … ]
We discover in these verses of the Bible two distinct and complementary impulses which are at work in our relationship with God, exemplified by the shepherds and by Mary [ … ]
Psalm 132, of the Songs of Ascents, is significant especially in Christian tradition. For Christians, this psalm not only recounts a devotional history of King David but also serves as a prophetic foretelling of Jesus Christ, seen as fulfilment of the Davidic covenant [ … ]
Traditionally ascribed to King David, upon the discovery of his adultery, this psalm represents and enacts a perfect act of contrition, from the awareness and acknowledgement of sin, through acknowledgement of God, to celebration and renewal in faith with God [ … ]
The paralyzed man would not have been able to come to Jesus without the help of his friends. It is his friends’ faith, and their initiative and bravery, as well as his own that work together to find a way to come to Jesus. Jesus is touched by their faith and their friendship. We may think now as well about the help we give others and the help which we receive from others, in matters of faith and as we confess our sins and seek spiritual healing. Our sins can be like a form of spiritual paralysis, in which condition we may rely a great deal on our friends to bring us back to Jesus [ … ]
Jesus has fed the multitude, the multiplication of loaves and fish prefiguring the Eucharist, through which all share, in community, the body and blood of Christ, becoming one. Now Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him, to cross the Sea of Galilee to the pagan regions on the other side, where the evangelizing mission will continue. There is symbolism here, as the early Christians are called upon by Matthew’s Gospel to make transition from the old observances to the new Law of Jesus’ love. Jesus meanwhile takes time alone to pray [ … ]
On the Sabbath, the day of rest and prayer, the Jews would gather in synagogues to recite the Shema and the eighteen blessings, which would be followed by readings from the Book of the Law, the Pentateuch, and from the Prophets. In today’s Gospel verses, Jesus has returned home to Nazareth, where, in the synagogue, he volunteers to read [ … ]
Jesus’ public ministry begins as John the Baptist’s concludes, John being imprisoned by Herod for speaking out against the immorality of Herod’s sexual relationship with his brother’s wife. Mission comes with danger, and John the Baptist was not afraid. Nor now is Jesus. Indeed, Jesus begins to preach with the very same words with which John had warned the people to beware of their sins: Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [ … ]
Jesus teaches us to be bold and to have faith and confidence in the light of persecutions. His listeners are told that, when they are accused, the Spirit will be with them, guiding their words such that they become a living testimony to Jesus. The Christians’ accusers will be unable to answer their words then – the force of their witness will be irresistible [ … ]
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the presence of the angel becomes a symbol of divine comfort and support during Jesus’ moment of utmost agony. As Jesus withdrew a stone’s cast away from his disciples and fell on the ground to pray, sweating blood, the world’s sins and crucifixion-horror pressed heavily upon him [ … ]
Jesus presents to his listeners an ideal of Christian purity, upon which we must act. There is a judgement, and there the sowings of the evil one will be burnt. It is that within us which is with God, with Jesus, which will shine for all eternity [ … ]
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is addressed especially to the Jewish people, who were called long ago by God to be his people. Now, through the course of the day, new labourers are hired to go into the vineyard. These are the Gentiles, non-Jewish people, who are called now to become part of the new people of God [ … ]
Just as Jesus teaches in these parables of that which is small becoming great, through the process of being hidden, in the earth or in the as yet unleavened dough, so Jesus teaches us, as the Gospel Evangelist teaches us, that the parables themselves reveal that which has been hidden, drawing the listener from a particular instance, readily recognizable from everyday life, to an understanding of matters of deep spiritual and cosmic significance [ … ]
Our prayer must be true to God. It is natural to petition God for what we need. It would indeed be arrogant to ‘go it alone’ and not humbly to share with God our needs and to ask Him for help, as if He were not our Father and we His children and creation. We are called by Jesus to acknowledge that all we have, we have through God. And we are called to develop our conversation with God through a life of prayer [ … ]
Jesus has come to break Satan’s hold – on the people of Jesus’ time and for all time. Accused by some of being a servant to Beelzebub, Jesus exposes the error and absurdity of what his accusers are saying. If Satan casts out Satan, then Satan is divided against himself and his house falls – he self-destructs [ … ]
Saint Cyril of Alexandria considers how the Holy Spirit is given to humanity through Christ. Saint Cyril’s central point is that the renewal of human nature is inseparable from the gift of the Spirit. Without the Spirit, humanity cannot return to the peace and stability intended by God from the beginning.[ … ]
Holy Saturday is unlike any other day in the liturgical year. It is a day suspended between death and life, darkness and light, silence and song. This ancient homily for Holy Saturday enters deeply into that liminal space—the moment when Christ, having died on the cross, descends to the realm of the dead. In doing so, it invites us into the mystery of the Harrowing of Hell: Christ’s triumphant entry into the underworld to liberate those held captive by death since the dawn of time [ … ]
This reflection, drawn from Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s commentary on the Letter to the Romans, richly develops the theological significance of unity, divine mercy, and the universality of salvation. The passage resonates deeply with themes central to Eastertide: renewal, reconciliation, and the triumph of divine love through the risen Christ. St Cyril, a towering figure in patristic theology and a staunch defender of orthodoxy at the Council of Ephesus, here offers a profound meditation on the body of Christ and the universal scope of redemption [ … ]
This is the third day of Holy Week. Through these verses of John’s Gospel, Jesus experiences great emotion, great sorrow, as he prepares for his betrayal and passion. He has given everything to Judas. He has washed his feet along with those of the other disciples. He shares an intimate and important meal with him. Judas has been one of the closest with Jesus for three years. Even now he shows compassion and does not name his betrayer to the other disciples. Instead he says: ‘One of you shall betray me.’ [ … ]
In this deeply moving catechesis, St. John Chrysostom leads us into the mystery of Christ’s Passion, focusing our attention on the extraordinary power and significance of his blood. For Chrysostom, this blood is not just a historical detail or a symbol of suffering—it is life itself. It is protection, healing, rebirth, and nourishment. It is the very source from which the Church is born [ … ]
Mark’s Gospel, thought by many to be the earliest written, does not present an account of the birth of Christ. He begins with the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, leading into his baptism by John. Toward the end of the Gospel, when the crucified Christ dies, the centurion standing by him will affirm this, saying: ‘Truly this was the Son of God.’ Throughout this most fast paced of gospels, this is Mark’s message, to give his readers the knowledge that Christ is the Son of God [ … ]
Psalm 71 expresses faith, trust, and unwavering dependence on God. The psalmist expresses a journey through the psalm, seeking refuge, deliverance and divine guidance in the face of adversity and old age. The psalm stands as testament to enduring relationship between the individual and his Creator, a relationship forged in the crucible of life’s trials and joys. It is a psalm of deep reflection, a declaration of hope, and a resounding call to praise God for His continuous presence and salvation throughout the psalmist’s life [ … ]
Psalm 97 commences with a declarative burst: ‘The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.’ The proclamation sets the tone for universal celebration, urging the earth and its distant isles to exult in response to the Lord’s sovereign rule. The very essence of the psalm lies in the rejoicing prompted by recognition of the Lord’s reign—a theme that resonates through each verse [ … ]
Psalm 125, one of the Psalms of Ascent, opens with a comparison of those who trust in the Lord to mount Zion. This comparison signifies stability and permanence. The psalmist uses the physical geography of Jerusalem and its surrounding mountains to illustrate the protection provided by the Lord to God’s people. This imagery serves as a metaphor for divine security and steadfastness [ … ]
At the beginning of the first century CE, Alexandria occupied a distinctive position within the Mediterranean world. It was at once a Greek city, an Egyptian city, a Jewish city, and a Roman city. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE and governed successively by the Ptolemies and the Romans, Alexandria became one of the principal centres of commerce, administration, and intellectual life in antiquity. Yet its historical importance rests not merely upon its size or wealth, but upon the kinds of thought that emerged within it [ … ]
Acts 2 records the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter’s address to the people gathered in Jerusalem, and the emergence of the Church as a visible community. The chapter continues themes established in the Gospel of Saint Luke: fulfilment of Scripture, the action of the Holy Spirit, witness concerning Jesus Christ, repentance, and the gathering of God’s people [ … ]
Acts chapter 20 records the latter stages of Paul’s missionary journeys and contains his farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus. The chapter combines travel narrative, ecclesial instruction, pastoral exhortation, and preparation for suffering. Luke presents Paul as a missionary, teacher, pastor, and witness whose ministry is shaped by service, endurance, and obedience to the calling of God [ … ]
Acts 7 is among the most profound and dramatic passages in the New Testament. Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stands before the council and offers not merely a defence of himself, but a sweeping interpretation of the whole history of Israel. His speech traces the movement of God’s covenantal action through Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the tabernacle, and the prophets, culminating in a fierce indictment of those who resisted the Holy Spirit and betrayed Jesus [ … ]
The Priestly Prayer of Jesus concludes the discourse of the Last Supper. Immediately afterwards, Jesus will be arrested, betrayed. Jesus prays to his Father in a very moving way. He offers to the Father the imminent sacrifice of himself, praying that his sacrifice may be acceptable to the Father, that his holy human nature may be glorified. Jesus’ prayer is spoken aloud, so that his disciples and we also may receive his last testament, as Jesus intercedes on our behalf with the Father [ … ]
Among all the writings of Saint Paul, few chapters have achieved the universal familiarity of 1 Corinthians 13. Its words are recited at weddings, memorial services, and public ceremonies, yet their familiarity has often obscured their true setting. The apostle did not compose these verses as a meditation upon romance, nor as an isolated hymn to affection; rather, he addressed a divided and vainglorious church whose members had turned spiritual gifts into occasions for rivalry, display, and pride. Into that contentious atmosphere Paul introduces ‘a more excellent way’ (1 Cor. 12:31): the way of charity [ … ]
