Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Lectionary summaries provided by
LCMS.
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
(12 April 2026)
Acts 5:29-42
I Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
Christ Jesus Breathes His Spirit and His Life into Us by the Ministry of the Gospel
The crucified and risen Lord Jesus establishes the ministry of the Gospel in order to
bestow His life-giving Holy Spirit and His peace upon the Church. To those who are called and ordained to this office, and to those they serve in His name, He grants the Holy Absolution of all sins.
By the fruits of His cross, He replaces fear and doubt with peace and joy, and thus gives “repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). Through the preaching of His sent ones, He calls
us to believe that He “is the Christ, the Son of God,” so that by such faith we “may have life in his name” (John 20:31). In His resurrection, we have the “living hope” to which we have been “born
again” and by which we are guarded “for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3, 5). Until then, “though you have not seen him, you love him,” and by the mercies of God “you
believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
FIRST READING
Acts 5:29-42
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a
tree.
31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance
to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given
to those who obey him. ”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
34 But 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.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.
36 For 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.
37 After 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.
38 So 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;
39 but 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,
40 and 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.
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to
suffer dishonor for the name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching
and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
PSALM
Psalm 148
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 hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass
away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above
earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of
Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!
3 Blessed 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,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for
you,
5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved
by various trials,
7 so 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.
8 Though 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,
9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
19 On
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. ”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad
when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am
sending you. ”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy
Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is
withheld. ”
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus
came.
25 So 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. ”
26 Eight 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. ”
27 Then 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. ”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God! ”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed. ”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this
book;
31 but 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.
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