Fifth Sunday of Easter

55Verse 55. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56Verse 56. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57Verse 57. At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. 58Verse 58. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59Verse 59. While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Verse 60. Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

2Verse 2. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3Verse 3. now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4Verse 4. As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5Verse 5. you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Verse 6. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 7Verse 7. To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8Verse 8. and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word— and to this they were appointed. 9Verse 9. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10Verse 10. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1Verse 1. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2Verse 2. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3Verse 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4Verse 4. You know the way to the place where I am going. ” 5Verse 5. “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Verse 6. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7Verse 7. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8Verse 8. Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9Verse 9. Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Verse 10. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11Verse 11. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me — or at least believe on account of the works themselves. 12Verse 12. Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13Verse 13. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14Verse 14. If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.