FIRST
READING: Acts 15: 7 - 21
7
And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them,
"Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among
you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel
and believe.
8
And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the
Holy Spirit just as he did to us;
9
and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their
hearts by faith.
10
Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the
neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able
to bear?
11
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus, just as they will."
12
And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and
Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them
among the Gentiles.
13
After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen
to me.
14
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name.
15
And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written,
16`After
this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which
has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up,
17
that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are
called by my name,
18
says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.'
19
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the
Gentiles who turn to God,
20
but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and
from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.
21
For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who
preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues."
PSALM: Psalms 96: 1 - 3, 10
1 O
sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to
day.
3
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all
the peoples!
10
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is
established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with
equity."
GOSPEL: John 15: 9 - 11
9
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I
have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and
that your joy may be full.
