April 29 th: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:5–12

1 John 3:16–24

The first reading is from the fourth chapter of Acts

Peter and John had been arrested the previous day because they were proclaiming the news of the resurrection to the people. In today's reading, Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he is able to proclaim salvation in Jesus' name to the religious authorities.

5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,   6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.   7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"   8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,   9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,   10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.   11This Jesus is
'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Here ends the reading

The second reading is from the third chapter of first John

Jesus’ death on our behalf is the clearest demonstration of divine love. This is the very love we share with others, not just through our words but especially through our deeds. In sharing such love we fulfill God’s commandments.

16We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.   17How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.   19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him   20whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.   21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God;   22and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.   24All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Here ends the reading