1st Reading
Acts 5:29-42

29 Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our Fathers raised Jesus whom ye killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 This is the One whom God exalted to his right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance and the forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 And we are witnesses of these things, and so also the Holy Spirit whom God gave to those who obey him."

33 When they heard this they were enraged and resolved to put them to death. 34 But a certain Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of Torah held in high esteem by all the people, ordered the men taken outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them,

"Men of Israel! Be careful regarding what you are about to do with these men! 36 For some time back there arose one, Theudas, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about 400 joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him dispersed and it came to nothing.

37 After him Judas the Galilean came to prominence at the time of the census, and gained a following among some of the people. He also died, and all who followed him were scattered.

38 And in this present case I counsel you to keep away from these men and leave them alone. For if this understaking is of man it will fail; 39 but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow them; and you may even be found to be fighting against God." So they took his advice.

40 And when they called the apostles back in they beat them, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus; then released them.

41 Then they left the council rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. 42 And every day they taught in the temple and from house to house, and did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Epistle
1 Peter 1:1-9

1 Peter, Apostle of Christ Jesus!

To the elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia; 2 in keeping with the foreknowledge of God the Father by sanctification of the Spirit; unto the obedience of Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood.

2 Grace and peace be exceedingly multiplied to you!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In keeping with his immeasurable mercy he begat us to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! 4 unto an inheritance imperishable, undefiled and unfading held in trust for you in heaven!

5 You, who by God's power, are guarded through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the End Time.

6 In this you rejoice though, now for a little while, you are necessarily grieved by many trials.

7 so that the testing of your faith which is more precious than gold which perishes when it is tested by fire ... might be found worthy of praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

8 whom, though you have not seen him, love him whom even now though you do not see him you believe, and and rejoice with inexpressible delight and are brimming over with glory. 9 and obtaining the goal of your faith; the salvation of your souls.

The Holy Gospel
John 20:19-31

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being securely 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 After saying this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were therefore gladdened for they had seen the Lord.

21 Jesus said again to them: Peace be with you. As the Father sends me, so I also send you!

22 And when he had said this he breathed out and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit!

23 If you remit the sins of any, they stand forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness it stands withheld.

24 Now Thomas one of the twelve, also known as Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 And so the other disciples kept saying to him "we see the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side: I will never believe!

26 Eight days later the disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. And although the doors were securely locked Jesus came and stood in their midst and said: Peace be with you.

27 Then he said to Thomas bring your finger here and look at my hands; and bring your hand and place it into my side; and be not faithless, but full of faith.

28 Thomas answered him and said, "My Lord and my God."

29 Jesus said to him seeing me you believe." Blessed likewise are those who do not see, and believe."

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and, thus believing, have eternal life in his name!