Second Sunday of Easter

14Verse 14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. 22Verse 22. Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. 23Verse 23. He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. 24Verse 24. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip. 25Verse 25. David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26Verse 26. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope, 27Verse 27. because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. 28Verse 28. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ 29Verse 29. Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Verse 30. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Verse 31. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. 32Verse 32. God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

3Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4Verse 4. and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5Verse 5. who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Verse 6. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7Verse 7. so that the proven character of your faith — more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Verse 8. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9Verse 9. now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

19Verse 19. It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. 20Verse 20. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Verse 21. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” 22Verse 22. When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23Verse 23. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” 24Verse 24. Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25Verse 25. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26Verse 26. Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Verse 27. Then Jesus 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.” 28Verse 28. Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29Verse 29. Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30Verse 30. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31Verse 31. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.