Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

¹ Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” ⁴ But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. ⁶ When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. ⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ ⁹ But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ ¹⁰ This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. ¹² The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, ¹⁴ who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ ¹⁵ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

¹ Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! ² Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army! ³ Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! ⁴ Praise him, you heavens of heavens, you waters that are above the heavens. ⁵ Let them praise the LORD’s name, for he commanded, and they were created. ⁶ He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away. ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths; ⁸ lightning and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling his word; ⁹ mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; ¹⁰ wild animals and all livestock; small creatures and flying birds; ¹¹ kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; ¹² both young men and maidens; old men and children: ¹³ let them praise the LORD’s name, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. ¹⁴ He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the LORD!

¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. ³ I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” ⁵ He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” ⁶ He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.