Daily Readings - 22/04/2026

^8:1 Saul entirely approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone[*a] except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.

^8:2 There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.

^8:3 Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison.

^8:4 Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News.

^8:5 One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them.

^8:6 The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves.

^8:7 There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured.

^8:8 As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.

^66:1 Acclaim God, all the earth,

^66:2 play music to the glory of his name, glorify him with your praises,

^66:3 say to God, ‘What dread you inspire!’ Your achievements are the measure of your power. Your enemies cringe in your presence;

^66:4 all the earth bows down to you, playing music for you, playing in honour of your name. (pause)

^66:5 Come and see what marvels God has done, so much to be feared for his deeds among mankind:

^66:6 he turned the sea into dry land, they crossed the river on foot! So let us rejoice in him,

^66:7 who rules for ever by his power: his eyes keep watch on the nations, let no rebel raise his head! (pause)

^66:8 You nations, bless our God and make his praise resound,

^66:9 who brings our soul to life and keeps our feet from faltering.

^66:10 You tested us, God, you refined us like silver,

^66:11 you let us fall into the net, you laid heavy burdens on our backs,

^66:12 you let people drive over our heads; but now the ordeal by fire and water is over, and you allow us once more to draw breath.

^66:13 I bring holocausts to your house, I bring them to fulfil those vows

^66:14 that rose to my lips, those vows I spoke when in trouble.

^66:15 I offer you fat holocausts and the smoke of burning rams, I offer you bullocks and he-goats.

^66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, while I tell you what he has done for me:

^66:17 when I uttered my cry to him and high praise was on my tongue,

^66:18 had I been guilty in my heart, the Lord would never have heard me.

^66:19 But God not only heard me, he listened to my prayer.

^66:20 Blessed be God, who neither ignored my prayer nor deprived me of his love.

^6:35 Jesus answered: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.

^6:36 But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe.

^6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away;

^6:38 because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me.

^6:39 Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.

^6:40 Yes, it is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’