FIRST
READING: Acts 5: 17 - 26
17
But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the
party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy
18
they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought
them out and said,
20
"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the
words of this Life."
21
And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and
taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and
called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to
the prison to have them brought.
22
But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and
they returned and reported,
23
"We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing
at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside."
24
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these
words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would
come to.
25
And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison
are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
26
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without
violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
PSALM: Psalms 34: 2 - 9
2
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be
glad.
3 O
magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I
sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my
fears.
5
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all
his troubles.
7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers
them.
8 O
taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes
refuge in him!
9 O
fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!
GOSPEL: John 3: 16 - 21
16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but
that the world might be saved through him.
18
He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only Son of God.
19
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20
For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the
light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21
But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be
clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
