April 27, 2015

Acts of the Apostles 11: 1- 18

Reading

 

11:1 Now the Apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.

 

11:2 Then, when Peter had gone up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision argued against him,

 

11:3 saying, “Why did you enter to uncircumcised men, and why did you eat with them?”

 

11:4 And Peter began to explain to them, in an orderly manner, saying:

 

11:5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw, in an ecstasy of mind, a vision: a certain container descending, like a great linen sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. And it drew near to me.

 

11:6 And looking into it, I considered and saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the flying things of the air.

 

11:7 Then I also heard a voice saying to me: ‘Rise up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

 

11:8 But I said: ‘Never, lord! For what is common or unclean has never entered into my mouth.’

 

11:9 Then the voice responded a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you shall not call common.’

 

11:10 Now this was done three times. And then everything was taken up again into heaven.

 

11:11 And behold, immediately there were three men standing near the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

 

11:12 Then the Spirit told me that I should go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brothers went with me also. And we entered into the house of the man.

 

11:13 And he described for us how he had seen an Angel in his house, standing and saying to him: ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

 

11:14 And he shall speak to you words, by which you shall be saved with your whole house.’

 

11:15 And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us also, in the beginning.

 

11:16 Then I remembered the words of the Lord, just as he himself said: ‘John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

 

11:17 Therefore, if God gave them the same grace, as also to us, who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I would be able to prohibit God?”

 

11:18 Having heard these things, they were silent. And they glorified God, saying: “So has God also given to the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

 

Gospel

 

The Holy Gospel According to John    10: 11-18

10:11 I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep.

10:12 But the hired hand, and whoever is not a shepherd, to whom the sheep do not belong, he sees the wolf approaching, and he departs from the sheep and flees. And the wolf ravages and scatters the sheep.

10:13 And the hired hand flees, because he is a hired hand and there is no concern for the sheep within him.

10:14 I am the good Shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me,

10:15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for my sheep.

10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold, and I must lead them. They shall hear my voice, and there shall be one sheepfold and one shepherd.

10:17 For this reason, the Father loves me: because I lay down my life, so that I may take it up again.

10:18 No one takes it away from me. Instead, I lay it down of my own accord. And I have the power to lay it down. And I have the power to take it up again. This is the commandment that I have received from my Father.”