FIRST
READING: Acts 11: 1 - 18
1
Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the
Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized
him,
3
saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
4
But Peter began and explained to them in order:
5
"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a
vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from
heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
6
Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and
reptiles and birds of the air.
7
And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8
But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered
my mouth.'
9
But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God has
cleansed you must not call common.'
10
This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11
At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were,
sent to me from Caesare'a.
12
And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These
six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
13
And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and
saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
14
he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and
all your household.'
15
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at
the beginning.
16
And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, `John baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand
God?"
18
When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God,
saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance
unto life."
PSALM: Psalms 118: 1, 8 - 9, 21 - 23, 26, 28 - 29
1 O
give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures
for ever!
8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in
man.
9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in
princes.
21
I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
22
The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the
corner.
23
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
26
Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from
the house of the LORD.
28
Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee; thou art my God, I
will extol thee.
29
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love
endures for ever!
GOSPEL: John 10: 1 - 10
1
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold
by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a
robber;
2
but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3
To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls
his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the
sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 A
stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they
do not know the voice of strangers."
6
This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he
was saying to them.
7
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am
the door of the sheep.
8
All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not
heed them.
9 I
am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go
in and out and find pasture.
10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they
may have life, and have it abundantly.
