The first lesson Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, 22"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23But you followed God's prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him. 24However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25King David said this about him: 'I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 26No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. 27For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. 28You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence.' 29"Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn't referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David's own descendants would sit on David's throne as the Messiah. 31David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah's resurrection. He was saying that the Messiah would not be left among the dead and that his body would not rot in the grave. 32"This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this. (NLT) Psalm 16 L. Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. C. I said to the Lord, "You are my Master! All the good things I have are from you." L. The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! C. Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow. L. I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods. C. Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. L. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! C. I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. L. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. C. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! L. My body rests in safety. C. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your godly one to rot in the grave. L. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence C. and the pleasures of living with you forever. (NLT) The second lesson 1 Peter 1:3-9 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson John 20:19-31 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (NIV)