Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁵⁵ But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at God’s right side. ⁵⁶ He said, “Look! I see heaven open. And I see the Son of Man standing at God’s right side!”

⁵⁷ Then they all shouted loudly. They covered their ears with their hands and all ran at Stephen. ⁵⁸ They took him out of the city and threw stones at him until he was dead. The men who told lies against Stephen left their coats with a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were throwing stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰ He fell on his knees and cried in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After Stephen said this, he died.

A Prayer of Faith in Troubled Times

For the director of music. A song of David.

² As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. By it you can mature in your salvation. ³ For you have already examined and seen how good the Lord is.

⁴ The Lord Jesus is the “stone”^[a] that lives. The people of the world did not want this stone. But he was the stone God chose. To God he was worth much. So come to him. ⁵ You also are like living stones. Let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ. ⁶ The Scripture says:

⁷ This stone is worth much to you who believe. But to the people who do not believe, he is

⁸ To people who do not believe, he is

They stumble because they do not obey what God says. This is what God planned to happen to them.

⁹ But you are chosen people. You are the King’s priests. You are a holy nation. You are a nation that belongs to God alone. God chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ At one time you were not God’s people. But now you are his people. In the past you had never received mercy. But now you have received God’s mercy.

Jesus Comforts His Followers

14 Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. And trust in me. ² There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”^[a]

⁵ Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. ⁷ If you really knew me, then you would know my Father, too. But now you do know him, and you have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.”

⁹ Jesus answered, “I have been with you a long time now. Do you still not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you don’t come from me. The Father lives in me, and he is doing his own work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done. ¹² I tell you the truth. He who believes in me will do the same things that I do. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.