Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Conversion of Saul
9 (A)Now [a]Saul, still (B)breathing [b]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for (C)letters from him to (D)the synagogues at (E)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (F)the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and (G)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and (H)he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and (I)it will be told you what you must do.”
7 The men who traveled with him (A)stood speechless, (B)hearing the [a]voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and (C)though his eyes were open, he [b]could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into (D)Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at (E)Damascus named (F)Ananias; and the Lord said to him in (G)a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from (H)Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen [c]in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (I)lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (J)how much harm he did to (K)Your [d]saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he (L)has authority from the chief priests to bind all who (M)call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (N)he is a chosen [e]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before (O)the Gentiles and (P)kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for (Q)I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after (R)laying his hands on him said, “(S)Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be (T)filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.
Saul Begins to Preach Christ
Now (U)for several days he was with (V)the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus (W)in the synagogues, [f]saying, “He is (X)the Son of God.”
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. A Psalm of David.
30 I will (A)extol You, O Lord, for You have (B)lifted me up,
And have not let my (C)enemies rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God,
I (D)cried to You for help, and You (E)healed me.
3 O Lord, You have (F)brought up my soul from [a]Sheol;
You have kept me alive, [b]that I would not (G)go down to the pit.
4 (H)Sing praise to the Lord, you (I)His godly ones,
And (J)give thanks to His holy [c](K)name.
5 For (L)His anger is but for a moment,
His (M)favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may (N)last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
6 Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I will (O)never be moved.”
7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;
You (P)hid Your face, I was dismayed.
8 To You, O Lord, I called,
And to the Lord I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood, if I (Q)go down to the pit?
Will the (R)dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?
10 “(S)Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be my (T)helper.”
11 You have turned for me (U)my mourning into dancing;
You have (V)loosed my sackcloth and girded me with (W)gladness,
12 That my [d](X)soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will (Y)give thanks to You forever.
Angels Exalt the Lamb
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels (A)around the throne and the (B)living creatures and the (C)elders; and the number of them was (D)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“(E)Worthy is the (F)Lamb that was (G)slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And (H)every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who (I)sits on the throne, and to the (J)Lamb, (K)be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the (L)four living creatures kept saying, “(M)Amen.” And the (N)elders (O)fell down and worshiped.
Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee
21 After these things Jesus [a](A)manifested Himself (B)again to the disciples at the (C)Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and (D)Thomas called [b]Didymus, and (E)Nathanael of (F)Cana in Galilee, and (G)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and (H)that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not (I)know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, (J)you do not have [c]any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “(K)Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 (L)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about [d]one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal (M)fire already laid and (N)fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the (O)fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus Provides
12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have (P)breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus *came and *took (Q)the bread and *gave it to them, and the (R)fish likewise. 14 This is now the (S)third time that Jesus [e]was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
The Love Motivation
15 So when they had (T)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [f](U)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [g]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (V)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [h]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [i]love You.” He *said to him, “(W)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [j]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him (X)the third time, “Do you [k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (Y)You know all things; You know that I [l]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “(Z)Tend My sheep.
Our Times Are in His Hand
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, (AA)signifying by (AB)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “(AC)Follow Me!”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.