Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Ruach-Filled Community Life

³² Now the whole group of those who believed was one in heart and mind. No one would say anything he owned was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³ With great power the emissaries were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and abundant favor was upon them all. ³⁴ No one among them was needy, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds ³⁵ and set them at the feet of the emissaries. And the proceeds were distributed according to the need each one had.

Blessing of Unity

Psalm 133

God’s Manifested Word of Life

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— ² the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. ³ What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so you may have fellowship with us. Indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Yeshua the Messiah. ⁴ These things we write so our joy may be full.

God’s Light Dispels Darkness

⁵ Now this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you—that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with Him and keep walking in the darkness, we are lying and do not practice the truth. ^{[a] 7} But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.

Cleansing Begins with Confessing

⁸ If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ^{[b] 10} If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Yeshua Atoned for Our Sin

2 My children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Intercessor with the Father—the righteous Messiah Yeshua. ² He is the atonement for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.^[c]

Yeshua Appears to the Disciples

¹⁹ It was evening on that day, the first of the week. When the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Judean leaders, Yeshua came and stood in their midst! And He said to them, “Shalom aleichem!” ²⁰ After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Yeshua said to them again, “Shalom aleichem! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

²² And after He said this, He breathed on them. And He said to them, “Receive the Ruach ha-Kodesh! ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; but if you hold back, they are held back.”

²⁴ One of the Twelve, Thomas called the Twin, was not with them when Yeshua came. ²⁵ The other disciples were saying to him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he replied to them, “Unless I see the nail prints in His hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand in His side, I will never believe!”

²⁶ Eight days later the disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Yeshua comes, despite the locked doors. He stood in their midst and said, “Shalom aleichem!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe!”

²⁸ Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Yeshua said to Him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed? Blessed are the ones who have not seen and yet have believed!”

The Reason for Signs and Wonders

³⁰ Yeshua performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹ But these things have been written so that you may believe that Yeshua is Mashiach Ben-Elohim, and that by believing you may have life in His name.