Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,(A) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.(B)
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.(C) 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.(D) 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.[a] 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,(E) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them[b] those who were being saved.(F)
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
A Davidic psalm.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
there is nothing I lack.(B)
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
He leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths[a]
for His name’s sake.(E)
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;(F)
Your rod and Your staff[c]—they comfort me.(G)
19 For it brings favor[a] if, mindful of God’s will,[b][c] someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,(A) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.
21 For you were called to this,
because Christ also suffered(B) for you,
leaving you an example,(C)
so that you should follow(D) in His steps.
22 He did not commit sin,(E)
and no deceit(F) was found in His mouth;(G)[d]
23 when He was reviled,
He did not revile in return;
when He was suffering,
He did not threaten
but entrusted Himself to the One who judges(H) justly.
24 He Himself bore our sins(I)
in His body(J) on the tree,(K)
so that, having died to sins,(L)
we might live for righteousness;(M)
you have been healed by His wounds.(N)[e]
25 For you were like sheep going astray,(O)[f]
but you have now returned
to the Shepherd(P) and Guardian[g] of your souls.
The Ideal Shepherd
10 “I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.(A) 2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd(B) of the sheep.(C) 3 The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand(D) what He was telling them.
The Good Shepherd
7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am(E) the door of the sheep.(F) 8 All who came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal(G) and to kill and to destroy.(H) I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
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