Wednesday in the Thirty-Fifth Week after Pentecost

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle John.
I Saint John §73a (3:21-4:6a).
Dearly beloved: If our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God: and whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of Him: because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as He hath given commandment unto us. And he that keepeth His commandments, abideth in Him, and He in him. And in this we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: and every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome him. Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore of the world they speak, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Saint Mark §65 (14:43-15:1).
At that time: As Jesus was speaking to His disciples, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve: and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients. And he that betrayed Him, had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He; lay hold on Him, and lead Him away carefully. And when he was come, immediately going up to Him, he saith: “Hail, Rabbi;” and he kissed Him. But they laid hands on Him, and held Him. And one of them that stood by, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the chief priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus answering, said to them: “Are you come out as to a robber, with swords and staves to apprehend Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me. But that the scriptures may be fulfilled.” Then His disciples leaving Him, all fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high priest; and all the priests and the scribes and the ancients assembled together. And Peter followed Him from afar off, even into the court of the high priest; and he sat with the servants at the fire, and warmed himself. And the chief priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus, that they might put Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness against Him, and their evidences were not agreeing. And some rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: “We heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands.” And their witness did not agree. And the high priest rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying: “Answerest Thou nothing to the things that are laid to Thy charge by these men?” But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, and said to Him: “Art Thou the Christ the Son of the blessed God?” And Jesus said to him: “I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest rending his garments, saith: “What need we any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you?” Who all condemned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him: “Prophesy,” and the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands. Now when Peter was in the court below, there cometh one of the maidservants of the high priest. And when she had seen Peter warming himself, looking on him she saith: “Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied, saying: “I neither know nor understand what thou sayest.” And he went forth before the court; and the cock crew. And again a maidservant seeing him, began to say to the standers by: “This is one of them.” But he denied again. And after a while they that stood by said again to Peter: “Surely thou art one of them; for thou art also a Galilean.” But he began to curse and to swear, saying; “I know not this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny Me.” And he began to weep. And straightway in the morning, the chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.