Readers' Theatre: Matthew 16: 13-20

Here is another 3-voice readers’ theatre setting of Matthew 16:13-20, one of the suggested scripture readings for August 21, 2011 (the tenth Sunday after Pentecost).  It's based on Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrase.

For an alternate version of this reading, see Who Do You Say I Am?based on the New Living Translation.


Readers’ Theatre: Matthew 16: 13-20
(The Message)

Narr:     When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi,
            he asked his disciples,

Jesus:   What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?

Peter:   Some people think he is John the Baptizer,
            some say Elijah,
            some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.

Narr:     Jesus pressed them:

Jesus:   And how about you? Who do you say I am?

Narr:     Simon answered:

Peter:   You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Jesus:   God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah!
            You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers.
            My Father in heaven, God himself,
            let you in on this secret of who I really am.
            And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are.
            You are Peter, a rock.
            This is the rock on which I will put together my church,
            a church so expansive with energy
            that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
            And that's not all.
            You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom,
            keys to open any and every door:
            no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven.
            A yes on earth is yes in heaven.
            A no on earth is no in heaven."

Narr:     And then Jesus swore the disciples to secrecy.
            He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.


For more worship resources related to this text, or other texts for August 21, 2011 (the tenth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 16A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For other readers’ theatre settings of scripture, click on Readers’ theatre in the list of “Labels” at the right.