Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Peter Reports to the Church in Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the followers in Judea heard that Gentiles had accepted God's message. ² So when Peter came to Jerusalem, some of the Jewish followers started arguing with him. They wanted Gentile followers to be circumcised, and ³ they said, “You stayed in the homes of Gentiles, and you even ate with them!”

⁴ Then Peter told them exactly what had happened:

⁵ I was in the town of Joppa and was praying when I fell sound asleep and had a vision. I saw heaven open, and something like a huge sheet held by its four corners came down to me. ⁶ When I looked in it, I saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. ⁷ I heard a voice saying to me, “Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them.”

⁸ But I said, “Lord, I can't do that! I've never taken a bite of anything that is unclean and not fit to eat.”^[a]

⁹ The voice from heaven spoke to me again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat.” ¹⁰ This happened three times before it was all taken back into heaven.

¹¹ Suddenly three men from Caesarea stood in front of the house where I was staying. ¹² The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry. Then six of the Lord's followers went with me to the home of a man ¹³ who told us that an angel had appeared to him. The angel had ordered him to send to Joppa for someone named Simon Peter. ¹⁴ Then Peter would tell him how he and everyone in his house could be saved.

¹⁵ After I started speaking, the Holy Spirit was given to them, just as the Spirit had been given to us at the beginning. ^16 (A) I remembered that the Lord had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁷ God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So how could I have gone against God?

¹⁸ When they heard Peter say this, they stopped arguing and started praising God. They said, “God has now let Gentiles turn to him, and he has given life to them!”

Come Praise the Lord

The New Heaven and the New Earth

21 ^(A) I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. ^2 (B) Then I saw New Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.

^3 (C) I heard a loud voice shout from the throne:

God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. ^4 (D) He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.

⁵ Then the one sitting on the throne said:

I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted. ^6 (E) Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega,^[a] the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty.

The New Command

³¹ After Judas had gone, Jesus said:

Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God. ³² Then, after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him, and God will do it very soon.

^33 (A) My children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” ^34 (B) But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. ³⁵ If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.