April 26, 2026

14II. The Mission in Jerusalem - Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 36Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” 38Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. 39For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” 40He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. Communal Life.

1Psalm 23 The Lord, Shepherd and Host - A psalm of David. I - The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 2In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; 3he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. 5II - You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

20But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

14I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

1“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” 6Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 7So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.