May 2, 2013
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
We hope that today is a good day.
Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php
Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/
★Zondervan King James Audio Bible
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/kjv/Gen.1
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+ Saints: St. Athanasius, doctor of the Church
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=472
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Gospel: John 15:9-11
9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.
11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
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Acts 15:7-21
7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.
8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, †TR adds "Christ" just as they are."
12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
13 After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16 'After these things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up,
17 That the rest of men may seek after the Lord;
all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who does all these things.☆Amos 9:11-12
18 All of God's works are known to him from eternity.'
19 "Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
†15:11: TR adds "Christ"
☆15:17: Amos 9:11-12
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*Revelation 21:9-27
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb's bride."
10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
15 He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
16 The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia.†12,012 stadia = or 2,221 kilometers or 1,380 miles. TR reads 12,000 stadia instead of 12,012 stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.
17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits,‡144 cubits is about 65.8 meters or 216 feet by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.
19 The foundations of the city's wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire;§or, lapis lazuli the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.
23 The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.
27 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
†21:16: 12,012 stadia = or 2,221 kilometers or 1,380 miles. TR reads 12,000 stadia instead of 12,012 stadia.
‡21:17: 144 cubits is about 65.8 meters or 216 feet
§21:19: or, lapis lazuli
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