The Incredulity of Thomas, by Ludovico Mazzolino, c. 1552, Oil on panel at the Galleria Borghese, Rome

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, April 21 are from Lectionary Year C, Second Sunday of Easter: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8 and John 20:19-31. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Acts 5:27-32

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” ²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Psalm 118:14-29

¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my defense;
     he has become my salvation.

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound
     in the tents of the righteous:

“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
   ¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
      the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

¹⁷ I will not die but live,
     and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely,
     but he has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
     I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD
     through which the righteous may enter.

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
     you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
     has become the cornerstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ The LORD has done it this very day;
     let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ LORD, save us! LORD,
     grant us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
     From the house of the LORD we bless you.

²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
     With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
     you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD,
     for he is good; his love endures forever.

or Psalm 150

¹ Praise the LORD.
     Praise God in his sanctuary;
     praise him in his mighty heavens.

² Praise him for his acts of power;
     praise him for his surpassing greatness.

³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
     praise him with the harp and lyre,

⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
     praise him with the strings and pipe,

⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
     praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath
     praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Revelation 1:4-8

⁴ John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

⁷ “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”So shall it be! Amen. ⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John 20:19-31

¹⁹19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 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.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as 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.” 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.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other 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 Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.