The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And ^(A)they devoted themselves to the apostles' ^(B)teaching and the ^(C)fellowship, to ^(D)the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[a] came upon every soul, and ^(E)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ^(F)had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ^(G)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ^(H)attending the temple ^(I)together and ^(J)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ^(K)with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(L)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(M)added to their number ^(N)day by day those who ^(O)were being saved.

¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(A)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(B)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(C)to this you have been called, ^(D)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(E)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (F)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (G)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(H)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (I)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(J)might die to sin and ^(K)live to righteousness. ^(L)By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For ^(M)you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to ^(N)the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 “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)A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus ^(B)used with them, but they ^(C)did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(D)I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, ^(E)he will be saved and will go in and out and ^(F)find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and ^(G)kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.