Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
42 They were (A)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to (B)the breaking of bread and [a](C)to prayer.
43 [b]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (D)wonders and [c]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [d]were together and (E)had all things in common; 45 and they (F)began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 (G)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (H)breaking bread [e]from house to house, they were taking their [f]meals together with gladness and [g]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (I)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (J)was adding [h]to their number day by day (K)those who were being saved.
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd,
I [a]shall (B)not want.
2 He makes me lie down in (C)green pastures;
He (D)leads me beside [b](E)quiet waters.
3 He (F)restores my soul;
He (G)guides me in the [c](H)paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I (I)walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I (J)fear no [e]evil, for (K)You are with me;
Your (L)rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have (N)anointed my head with oil;
My (O)cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely (P)goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h](Q)dwell in the house of the Lord [i]forever.
19 For this finds [a]favor, if for the sake of (A)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (B)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds [b]favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For (C)you have been called for this purpose, (D)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (E)an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who (F)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [c]and while being (G)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [d](H)bore our sins in His body on the [e](I)cross, so that we (J)might die to [f]sin and live to righteousness; for (K)by His [g]wounds you were (L)healed. 25 For you were (M)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (N)Shepherd and [h]Guardian of your souls.
Parable of the Good Shepherd
10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is (A)a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is (B)a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear (C)his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and (D)leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know (E)his voice. 5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know (F)the voice of strangers.” 6 This (G)figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am (H)the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are (I)thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 (J)I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they (K)may have life, and [a]have it abundantly.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.