Daily Reading for Saturday April 21, 2018

Acts 9:31-42

31 Then, indeed, the congregation throughout the whole of Ju·deʹa and Galʹi·lee and Sa·marʹi·a+ entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah* and in the comfort of the holy spirit,+ it kept on multiplying.
32 Now as Peter was traveling through all the region, he came down also to the holy ones who lived in Lydʹda.+ 33 There he found a man named Ae·neʹas, who had been lying flat on his bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him: “Ae·neʹas, Jesus Christ heals you.+ Rise and make up your bed.”+ And he got up immediately. 35 When all those living in Lydʹda and the Plain of Sharʹon saw him, they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was in Jopʹpa a disciple named Tabʹi·tha, which means, when translated, “Dorʹcas.”* She abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy that she was making. 37 But in those days she fell sick and died. So they bathed her and laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydʹda was near Jopʹpa, when the disciples heard that Peter was in that city, they sent two men to him to urge him: “Please come to us without delay.” 39 At that Peter got up and went with them. And when he arrived, they led him up into the upper room; and all the widows presented themselves to him, weeping and showing many garments and robes* that Dorʹcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter then put everyone outside,+ and kneeling down, he prayed. Then turning toward the body, he said: “Tabʹi·tha, rise!” She opened her eyes, and as she caught sight of Peter, she sat up.+ 41 Giving her his hand, he raised her up, and he called the holy ones and the widows and presented her alive.+ 42 This became known throughout all Jopʹpa, and many became believers in the Lord.+

Psalms 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

12 With what will I repay Jehovah
For all the good he has done for me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation,*
And I will call on the name of Jehovah.
14 I will pay my vows to Jehovah
In the presence of all his people.+
15 Costly* in the eyes of Jehovah
Is the death of his loyal ones.+
16 I beg you, O Jehovah,
For I am your servant.
I am your servant, the son of your slave girl.
You have freed me from my bonds.+
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving;+
I will call on the name of Jehovah.

John 6:60-69

60 When they heard this, many of his disciples said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: “Does this stumble you? 62 What, therefore, if you should see the Son of man ascending to where he was before?+ 63 It is the spirit that is life-giving;+ the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.+ 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.+ 65 He went on to say: “This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”+
66 Because of this, many of his disciples went off to the things behind+ and would no longer walk with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve: “You do not want to go also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to?+ You have sayings of everlasting life.+ 69 We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”+