Daily Readings - 18/04/2026

^6:1 About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews:[*a] in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked.

^6:2 So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food;

^6:3 you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them,

^6:4 and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word’.

^6:5 The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

^6:6 They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.[*b]

^6:7 The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.

^32:1 Happy the man whose fault is forgiven, whose sin is blotted out;

^32:2 happy the man whom Yahweh accuses of no guilt, whose spirit is incapable of deceit!

^32:3 All the time I kept silent, my bones were wasting away with groans, day in, day out;

^32:4 day and night your hand lay heavy on me; my heart grew parched as stubble in summer drought (Pause)

^32:5 At last I admitted to you I had sinned; no longer concealing my guilt, I said, ‘I will go to Yahweh and confess my fault’. And you, you have forgiven the wrong I did, have pardoned my sin. (Pause)

^32:6 That is why each of your servants prays to you in time of trouble; even if floods come rushing down, they will never reach him.

^32:7 You are a hiding place for me, you guard me when in trouble, you surround me with songs of deliverance. (Pause)

^32:8 I will instruct you, and teach you the way to go; I will watch over you and be your adviser.

^32:9 Do not be like senseless horse or mule that need bit and bridle to curb their spirit (to let you get near them).

^32:10 Many torments await the wicked, but grace enfolds the man who trusts in Yahweh.

^32:11 Rejoice in Yahweh, exult, you virtuous, shout for joy, all upright hearts.

^6:16 That evening the disciples went down to the shore of the lake and

^6:17 got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the lake. It was getting dark by now and Jesus had still not rejoined them.

^6:18 The wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough.

^6:19 They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming towards the boat. This frightened them,

^6:20 but he said, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’

^6:21 They were for taking him into the boat, but in no time it reached the shore at the place they were making for.