Third Sunday in Easter - April 18, 2021

Peter said to the people:

13 The God of our ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, gave his servant Jesus glory! This was the same person you arrested and rejected before Governor Pilate. Even when Pilate wanted to release him! 14 Jesus was holy and good, but you rejected him. Instead, you wanted a murderer released in his place. 15 Jesus leads everyone to life, but you killed him. So, God raised him from the dead. We are eye witnesses to what happened.

17 Now, my friends, I know that you and your leaders didn't really know what you were doing. 18 But, through the prophets in the Bible, God showed everyone his Christ had to suffer and die. And this is what he did. 19. So change your lives! Turn back to God! That way, God will wipe all your sins away!

Peter said to the people:

13 The God of Abraham, [the God] of Isaac, and [the God] of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, gloried his SERVANT JESUS, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate when he determined to release that (ONE). 14 But you denied the holy and righteous (ONE) and asked to be favored with a man, a murderer, 15 but you murdered the SOURCE of Life WHOM God raised from the dead, to which (event) we are witnesses.

17 Now, brothers, I know that you and indeed your leaders did (this deed) through ignorance. 18 Through the mouth of his prophets, God foretold his CHRIST to suffer, thus he fulfilled. 19 So, repent and return for your sins to be wiped away (by God).

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.

1 Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness.
Give me relief from my distress.
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?
Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood?

Selah.

3 But know that YHWH has set apart for himself him who is godly:
YHWH will hear when I call to him.
4 Stand in awe, and don't sin.
Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness.
Put your trust in YHWH.
6 Many say, "Who will show us any good?"
YHWH, let the light of your face shine on us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep,
for you, YHWH alone, make me live in safety.

1 My children. I am writing these thoughts down for you so you will think twice before you sin. But if any of us should sin, we have someone who will beg God for us. That person is Jesus Christ, the person who never sinned. 2 He wiped our sins and the sins of the entire world clean away! 3 We are sure we really know Jesus when we follow his commands. 4 The person who says "I know Jesus" and does not follow his commands is a liar. This person really does not know the truth. 5 But, God's love is really present in the person who does what Jesus wants.

1 My children, I am writing these (things) to you so that you might not sin. (But) if some might sin, we have a Paraclete with the Father, JESUS CHRIST the righteous (ONE). 2 HE is the expiation for our sins, not only for ours but also for (those) of the whole world. 3 In this, we know that we have known HIM, if we should keep HIS commands. 4 The one saying "I have known HIM" and not keeping HIM commands, (he) is a liar and the truth is not in this (person); 5 but, whoever keeps HIS Word, the love of God has been truly perfected in this (person).

(The two men who walked toward Emmaus returned to Jerusalem so they could talk to Jesus' followers.) 35 The men explained what happened on the way to Emmaus and how they recognized Jesus when he broke bread with them.

36 While they were discussing what happened, Jesus stood among them."Peace be with you,"he said. 37 The followers of Jesus were so scared when Jesus appeared, they thought they had seen a ghost! 38-39"Why are you so upset? Why do you think such things?"Jesus said to them."Look at my hands and feet. Touch me. See, it's really me! A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones as you see I have."40 After he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But they were so filled with joy and wonder, they just couldn't believe it was true. So Jesus asked them,"Do you have anything to eat here?"42 They gave him a piece of cooked fish. 43 He took the fish and ate it in front of everyone.

44 Then Jesus said to his followers,"When I lived among you, I told you what would happen, so everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms would come true."45 Then Jesus helped his followers really understand the Bible. 46"It is written in the Bible that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,"Jesus continued. 47"The Bible also tells us that a message would be preached everywhere in the Christ's name: 'God will give people a chance to turn their lives around. If they do, God will forgive them.' This message will first be preached in Jerusalem. 48 All of you are witnesses to everything that has happened."

35 They explained the (events that happened) on the way, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36 While they were saying these (things), HE HIMSELF stood in the middle of them and said to them,"Peace to you."37 Having been terrified and having become fearful, they were thinking (they) saw a spirit.

24:36 "While they were saying these (things)" is a temporal participial clause.

24:37 "(they) saw a spirit" is an infinitive.

38 HE said to them,"Why are you troubled, and what thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 See MY hands and MY feet that (it is) I MYSELF. Touch ME and see (ME). A spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see ME having."40 Having said this, HE showed them (HIS) hands and feet. 41 Since they still did not believe from joy, and (since they) wondered, HE said to them,"Do you have something in this place to eat?"42 They gave to him a piece of cooked fish. 43 Having taken (it) before them, he ate (it).

44 He said to them,"These (things I refer to) are MY words I spoke to you when I was still with you, because everything having been written about me in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms needed to be fulfilled."45 Then HE (thoroughly) opened their minds so as to understand the scriptures. 46 HE said to them,"Thus it has been written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that a repentance and a forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these (things)."