Fourth Sunday of Easter

42Verse 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Verse 43. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. 44Verse 44. All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Verse 45. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. 46Verse 46. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47Verse 47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

19Verse 19. For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20Verse 20. How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21Verse 21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: 22Verse 22. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” 23Verse 23. When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 24Verse 24. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” 25Verse 25. For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1Verse 1. “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2Verse 2. But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3Verse 3. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4Verse 4. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5Verse 5. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.” 6Verse 6. Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7Verse 7. So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8Verse 8. All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9Verse 9. I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10Verse 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.