Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Tabitha is Healed

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha,^[a] which in Greek is Dorcas.^[b] She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. ³⁷ At that time, she got sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, “Come here quickly!” ³⁹ So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter,^[c] crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. ⁴² What happened became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Meanwhile, Peter^[d] stayed in Joppa for several days with Simon, a leatherworker.

A Davidic Psalm.

The Lord Shepherds His People

The Vision of Tribulation Saints

⁹ After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice,

¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God, ¹² saying,

¹³ “Who are these people wearing white robes,” one of the elders asked me, “and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I told him, “Sir, you know.”

Then he told me, “These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering.^[a] They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. ¹⁵ That is why:

Jesus is Rejected by the Jews

²² Now^[a] Hanukkah^[b] was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking around in the Temple inside the open porch of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jewish leaders^[c] surrounded him and quizzed him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you’re the Messiah,^[d] tell us so plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I have told you, but you don’t believe it. The actions that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, ²⁶ but you don’t believe, because you don’t belong to my sheep.^{[e] 27} My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, they’ll never be lost, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ What my Father has given me^[f] is more important than anything,^[g] and no one can snatch it from the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”