Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

‘What I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’

In those days: Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple, that is called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those entering the Temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognised him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 

Their sound goes forth through all the earth. 

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.

Day unto day breathes forth a word,

and night unto night imparts the knowledge.

Their sound goes forth through all the earth. 

No speech, no word, whose voice goes unheeded;

their sound goes forth through all the earth,

their message to the utmost bounds of the world.

Their sound goes forth through all the earth. 

‘God who had set me apart before I was born.’

Brothers and Sisters: I would have you know that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

  Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!

Alleluia, alleluia.

Lord, you know everything;

you know that I love you.

Alleluia.

‘Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.’

When Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’