Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁴² And they continued in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. ⁴³ And fear came over every soul. And many wonders and signs were shown by the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed kept themselves together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, as anyone had need. ⁴⁶ And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and broke bread in every house, and ate their food together, with gladness and singleness of heart praising God, ⁴⁷ and had favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the congregation daily such as were to be saved.

¹⁹ For it is meritorious if a person for conscience towards God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For how is it praiseworthy if when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? But if when you do well you suffer wrong, and take it patiently, then is there favour with God.

²¹ For to this indeed you have been called. For Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps – ²² who did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth; ²³ who, when he was reviled, reviled not in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed the cause to him who judges righteously. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we may be delivered from sin and live in righteousness; by his stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Christ is the true shepherd, and the door of the sheep. Some say Christ has a devil and is mad. Some say he does not speak the words of a man that has a devil. Because he tells the truth, the Jews take up stones to cast at him, call his preaching blasphemy, and go about to take him.

10 Truly truly I say to you, he who does not enter into the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² He who goes in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep; ³ to him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he has sent forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him. For they know not the voice of strangers.

⁶ This similitude Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand the things that he was saying to them.

⁷ Then Jesus spoke to them again: Truly truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All, even as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be safe, and will go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes not but to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.