Year A – Easter 5
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
May 3 – 5 Easter – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
Acts 7:55-60
The preaching of Stephen, one of the first deacons of the church, provokes the people and they turn on him, making him the first Christian martyr.
A reading (lesson) from the Acts of the Apostles:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Filled with the Holy Spirit…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
New Revised Standard Version
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
1 Peter 2:2-10
Peter cites the Scriptures to encourage those who have recently converted to following Christ. He contrasts their old way of life to their new life, built on the solid foundation of Jesus.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Peter:
(Lead in with) RSV: Like newborn babes…; NRSV: Like newborn infants…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
New Revised Standard Version
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
John 14:1-14
Immediately following the Last Supper, Jesus reassures his disciples by urging them to trust in God’s plan. He tells them that by their faith, they can do works even greater than his own.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jesus said, “Let not…”; NRSV: Jesus said, “Do not let…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
May 3 – 5 Easter – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
(And for the Alternate Second Lesson)
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
Acts 17:1-15
Paul uses his credentials to boldly preach the good news of Christ in the synagogues of Thessalonica and Berea. His testimony causes many people to believe, but it also inspires jealousy among some of the religious leaders.
A reading (lesson) from the Acts of the Apostles:
(Lead in with) RSV: When Paul and Silas…; NRSV: After Paul and Silas…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
When Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked fellows of the rabble, they gathered a crowd, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them; and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard this. And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there too, stirring up and inciting the crowds. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
New Revised Standard Version
After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go. That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.
ILLUMINATION for the Alternate First Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
The people of Israel are to teach every generation that the Lord’s commandments are for the good of his chosen people. All who keep God’s laws are counted as righteous.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Deuteronomy:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Moses said, “When…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Moses said, “”When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes; and he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land which he swore to give to our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’
New Revised Standard Version
Moses said: “When your children ask you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your children, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The LORD displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household. He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. Then the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right.'”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
1 Peter 2:1-10
Peter cites the Scriptures to encourage those who have recently converted to following Christ. He contrasts their old way of life to their new life, built on the solid foundation of Jesus.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Peter:
(Lead in with) RSV: Put away all malice…; NRSV: Rid yourselves of all malice…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
New Revised Standard Version
Rid yourselves of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation– if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 3, 2026
John 14:1-14
Immediately following the Last Supper, Jesus reassures his disciples by urging them to trust in God’s plan. He tells them that by their faith, they can do works even greater than his own.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jesus said, “Let not…”; NRSV: Jesus said, “Do not let…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“In a sense, the whole life of Christ is the life of a Christian. We live in Christ; we are baptized into the death of Christ; we put on Christ; we are raised with Christ. Indeed, Christ, who is the Son of God, became the Son of Man so that we might become sons and daughters of God.”
“Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, not merely from natural death, but from a cross, a bitter death, an inhumane and unjust execution, a life brutally cut short. Contracted in his agony and death are all human sufferings, and from this hell-like prison he burst forth on the eighth and final day. This story is reenacted again and again in the members of Christ’s body.”
“The bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus challenges the order of this world, shaking and shattering it. The love of God invades and overthrows, revealing that the world does not have to be the way it is, and indeed will not. Violence and war, hate and avarice, pain and tears; the stones hurled at Stephen in our passage from Acts, and thrown at martyrs today; and death itself: all of these are being overcome, now.”
Preaching Today
Susan Snook: Change Inspires Transformation
“The stoning of Stephen, the persecution of Christians was a change; how apostles responded was transformation. They completely rethought their mission and their calling.”
Amy Peeler: Who and Where is Jesus
“Jesus confirms and fulfills what God began revealing in the election and grace to Israel and creation from the beginning. God is life-giving because he is life. God is truth-telling because he is truth. All the promises to Israel are summed up in Jesus, who is the way to experience the life and truth of God the Father.”
Alston Johnson: Map of All Maps
“For those who walk in this Way, those who will trust this Truth, those who will accept this Life, they will have an intimation of God as ‘Abba’ and Father. It is a new and unprecedented relationship that each human being might have with God that is intimate and precious.”
Classic Texts
Simon Patrick: A Patient Spirit
“Stephen opposed…to their anger, a patient spirit; to their threats, silence; to their hatred, ardent love; to their malignity, good-will; to their false accusations, preaching of the truth.”
Jonathan Edwards: Suitable Accommodations
“There are sufficient and suitable accommodations for all the different sorts of persons that are in the world: for great and small, for high and low, rich and poor, wise and unwise, bond and free, persons of all nations and all conditions and circumstances, for those that have been great sinners as well as for moral livers; for weak saints and those that are babes in Christ as well as for those that are stronger and more grown in grace.”
Gregory of Nyssa: Faith Completes the Circle
“For with what shall the Father be glorified, but with the true glory of the Son: and with what again shall the Son be glorified, but with the majesty of the Spirit? In like manner, again, faith completes the circle, and glorifies the Son by means of the Spirit, and the Father by means of the Son.”
Articles on St. Stephen and Martyrdom
Jeremy Bergstrom: The Martyr’s Death and the Birth of Christ
“This may strike us modern folk as unnecessarily dark and morbid, but consider those of the early Church who joyfully followed St. Stephen’s example as the path to life and new birth. One of the best is St. Ignatius of Antioch, the second-century bishop and martyr, who saw the light of life in the face of imminent suffering.”
John Thorpe: Stephen, Full of Power and Grace
“It has been fashionable for some decades to downplay the title ‘Church Militant’ because of its implications about violence. But … we wrestle not against flesh and blood, after all. … What might it mean in our lives to go out into our world not with shields up and on red-alert, but vulnerable, open, and willing to be hurt?”
Jayson Casper: Archbishop Honors Martyrs
“Welby gave Pope Tawadros 21 letters written by grieving British families. ‘Why have the martyrs of Libya spoken so powerfully to the world?’ Welby asked. ‘The way these brothers lived and died communicated that their testimony is trustworthy.’”
Articles on the Priesthood of Believers
Jean Meade: Go Thou and Do Likewise
“All the Ten Commandments, as well as the ‘Greatest Commandments’ are directed to the singular thou, to the individual, although they are given to the whole community. The community standards thus come from the faith and practice of the individual people that form it, not vice-versa.”
Sam Keyes: The Maternal Priesthood
“I think it was from Mary and her sorrows and joys that I learned that Christianity involves an affective as well as an intellectual life. Looking at her now somehow brings it all together and makes the tears flow: joy, sorrow, every feeling in the book — it’s all part of the redeeming work of God that far exceeds words.”
Simon Oliver: Episcopacy, Priesthood, and the Priesthood of the Church
“The sacrificial offering of Christ on the cross is the manifestation of the eternal offering of the Son to the Father in the Holy Spirit. In other words, the sacrificial offering of Christ is not something that just happens to take place in first-century Palestine as a reaction to human sin; it belongs to very trinitarian life of God.”
Articles on God the Father
Zachary Guiliano: God Is (Not) an Old Man in the Sky
“God’s fatherhood importantly speaks to our need for a transcendent source of being that grounds our human ordering, as well as questions it. We need the old man in the sky; we need ‘the Ancient of Days’ to take his seat, with ‘his clothing as white as snow’ and ‘the hair of his head white like wool’ (Dan. 7:9).”
Jane Williams: Glory
“In the theology of John’s Gospel, the crucifixion is the moment of ‘glory,’ the moment in which the unity between Father and Son becomes fully visible, and so the moment in which the saving presence of God blazes out.”
Wesley Hill: Praying the “Our Father” with Rembrandt
“To pray for the reverencing and uplifting of the Father’s name is to pray that this welcoming, forgiving Father — the Father whose hands gently rest on his lost son’s shoulders — be more widely known, seen for the compassionate Father that he is, and worshiped as the giver of extravagant mercy.”
