Third Sunday of Easter

1Verse 1. Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest 2Verse 2. and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3Verse 3. As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4Verse 4. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5Verse 5. “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6Verse 6. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

11Verse 11. Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12Verse 12. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13Verse 13. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” 14Verse 14. And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

1Verse 1. Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way: 2Verse 2. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3Verse 3. Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 4Verse 4. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5Verse 5. So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6Verse 6. He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7Verse 7. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it . . . ) and jumped into the sea. 8Verse 8. The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards. 9Verse 9. When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Verse 10. Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11Verse 11. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn. 12Verse 12. “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Verse 13. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish. 14Verse 14. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15Verse 15. When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16Verse 16. Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17Verse 17. Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18Verse 18. Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Verse 19. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”