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Following Jesus · Volume 2
John 21; Acts 1-2
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John 21
1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:
2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.
8The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
9When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.
10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.
12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.
13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.
14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
15When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
25There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.
Acts 1
1In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,
2until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
3After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,
16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
18(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.
19This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his position.’
21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 2
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
7Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
11both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
23He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
24But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.
25David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,
27because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
29Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
32God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
35until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
41Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
44All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Translation: BSB