Lessons                                                                       Bread of Life                                                              18 April 2020

Acts 5:29–42

₂₉But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ₃₀The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ₃₁God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ₃₂And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

₃₃When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ₃₄But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ₃₅And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ₃₆For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ₃₇After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ₃₈So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ₃₉but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ₄₀and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ₄₁Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. ₄₂And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

1 Peter 1:3–9

₃Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ₄to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ₅who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ₆In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ₇so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ₈Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ₉obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20:19–31

₁₉On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ₂₀When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ₂₁Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ₂₂And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ₂₃If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

₂₄Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ₂₅So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

₂₆Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ₂₇Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ₂₈Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ₂₉Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

₃₀Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ₃₁but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.