Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

9 Saul was still very angry with the Lord's disciples. He said he would kill them. He went to the high priest.

² He asked him for letters to take to the meeting places at Damascus. In this way he was given the power to catch any men or women disciples. He could tie them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ He went on his way. All at once, near the city of Damascus, a light from the sky shone around him.

⁴ He fell to the ground and heard someone say, `Saul, Saul, why are you troubling me?'

⁵ Saul said, `Who are you, Lord?' The Lord said, `I am Jesus. You are troubling me.

⁶ But get up and go to the city. There you will be told what you must do.'

⁷ The men who had come with Saul stood there. They did not say a word. They heard a voice but did not see anyone.

⁸ Saul got up off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. They took his hand and led him to Damascus.

⁹ For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The Lord came to him in a vision and said. `Ananias.' He replied, `Here I am, Lord.'

¹¹ The Lord said, `Go into the street which is called Straight. At the house of Judas, ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus. He is there, talking with God.

¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming to him. He has seen him put his hands on him so that he may see again.'

¹³ Then Ananias replied, `Lord, often I have heard of this man. He has brought much trouble to your people at Jerusalem.

¹⁴ The chief priests have given him power in this city to put into prison all those who call on your name.'

¹⁵ The Lord said, `Go, I have chosen him to take my name to the people who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel also.

¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.'

¹⁷ Then Ananias went. He went into the house and put his hands on Saul. He said, `Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus came to you on the road while you were coming here. He has sent me to you so that you may see again, and that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

¹⁸ At once some kind of skin which had covered Saul's eyes came off. He was able to see again from then on. He got up and was baptised.

¹⁹ And when he had eaten food, he was strong again. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples at Damascus.

²⁰ Right away he went to the Jewish meeting places and told the people that Jesus is the Son of God.

¹¹ Then I saw and heard many angels. They were around the chair, and the living beings, and the leaders. There were many, many thousands.

¹² They said with a loud voice, `The Lamb of God who was killed is the only one good enough to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, praise, and blessing!'

¹³ Then I heard everything in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything in them say, `Blessing, honour, praise, and power belong for ever and ever to the One who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'

¹⁴ Then the four living beings said, `Amen! May it be so!' And the leaders kneeled down and worshipped the One who lives for ever and ever.

21 The next time the disciples saw Jesus was at the Sea of Tiberias [Galilee]. This is how Jesus showed himself to them.

² Some of the disciples were in one place. They were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus.

³ Simon Peter said to the others, `I am going fishing.' The others said, `We are going with you also.' They went out in a boat right away. That night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus was standing there by the sea. The disciples did not know it was Jesus.

⁵ He said to them, `My children, did you catch any fish?' They answered, `No.'

⁶ He said to them, `Throw out your net on the right side of the boat, then you will catch some.' They threw out their net and caught many fish, so that they were not able to bring in the net.

⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, `It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he put on his coat and his belt. He had taken off some clothes to work. Then he jumped into the water.

⁸ The other disciples came in a small boat. They were pulling the net. It was full of fish. They were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards.

⁹ When they came to the land, they saw a small fire. Fish and some bread lay on the fire.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, `Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.'

¹¹ Simon Peter went to the boat. He pulled the net to land. It was full of big fish. There were a hundred and fifty three fish. But even with so many fish the net did not break.

¹² Jesus said to them, `Come and eat.' The disciples were all afraid to ask him, `Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord.

¹³ Jesus came. He took bread and gave it to them. Then he took fish and gave it to them.

¹⁴ This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from death.

¹⁵ After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, `Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said, `Yes, Lord. You know that I like you. I am your friend.' Jesus said to him, `Feed my lambs.'

¹⁶ He asked him the second time, `Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter said, `Yes, Lord. You know that I like you. I am your friend.' Jesus said to him, `Take care of my sheep.'

¹⁷ Then he asked Peter the third time, `Simon son of John, do you like me?' Peter was sad because of the way Jesus asked him the third time. So he answered him, `Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you as a close friend' Jesus said to him, `Feed my sheep.

¹⁸ I tell you the truth. When you were young, you put on your own belt. You went where you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will put out your hands. Others will put your belt on for you. They will take you where you do not want to go.'

¹⁹ Jesus said this to show how Peter would die and make God's name great. When he had finished saying this, he said to him, `Come and follow me!'