BWV 42 Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats

Quasimodogeniti (First Sunday after Easter). Poet unknown; PT (Leipzig, 1731); Facs: Neumann T, p. 442.

2. Jn. 20:19; 4. Jakob Fabricius, verse 1 of "Verzage nicht, o Häuflein klein," (ascribed to M. Altenburg in Fischer-Tümpel, II, #56); 7. Martin Luther, verse 1 of "Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich" ("Da pacem Domine"), 1529 (Wackernagel, III, #35ff.) with the traditional supplement based on 1 Tim. 2:2, "Gib unsern Fürsten und aller Obrigkeit" by Johann Walter, 1566.

8 April 1725, Leipzig; re-performance 1731 and after 1735 (Neumann Hb).

BG 10; NBA I/11.



1. Sinfonia

2. Recit. [Dictum] (T)

The evening, though, of the very same Sabbath, the disciples assembled, and the doors had been fastened tightly for fear of the Jews when Jesus came and walked among them.

3. Aria (A)

Where two and three assembled are(1)
For Jesus' precious name's sake,
There cometh Jesus in their midst
And speaks o'er them his Amen.
For that which love and need have caused
Doth not the Highest's order break.

4. Aria (S, T)

Do not despair, O little flock,
E'en though the foe may well intend
Thee fully to destroy
And seek a way to bring thee down,
Wherefore thou shalt know fear and dread:
It shall not long be lasting.

5. Recit. (B)

One can from this a fine example summon,
From that which in Jerusalem did happen;
When the disciples had assembled that day
In gloomy shadows
From the fear of the Jews,(2)
There came my Savior in their midst
To witness that he for his church its shield would be.
Thus, leave the foe his fury!

6. Aria (B)

Jesus doth protect his people
When them persecution strikes.
For their sake the sun must shine forth
With the golden superscript:
Jesus doth protect his people,
When them persecution strikes.

7. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Now grant us concord graciously,
Lord God, in our own season;
For there indeed no other is
Who for us could do battle
Than thou, our God, thou only.

Give to our princes and the magistrates
Peace and good governance,
So that we beneath them
A most peaceful and quiet life may lead forever
In godliest devotion and honesty.

Amen.


1. Cf. Mt. 18:20.

2. Cf. Jn. 20:19.


© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose


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