Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
15 During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (the number* of people was altogether about 120) and said: 16 “Men, brothers, it was necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled that the holy spirit spoke prophetically through David about Judas,+ who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.+ 17 For he had been numbered among us+ and he obtained a share in this ministry.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his dwelling become desolate, and let there be no inhabitant in it’+ and, ‘His office of oversight let someone else take.’+ 21 It is therefore necessary that of the men who accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus carried on his activities* among us, 22 starting with his baptism by John+ until the day he was taken up from us,+ one of these men should become a witness with us of his resurrection.”+
23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barʹsab·bas, who was also called Justus, and Mat·thiʹas. 24 Then they prayed and said: “You, O Jehovah,* who know the hearts of all,+ designate which one of these two men you have chosen 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas deviated to go to his own place.”+ 26 So they cast lots over them,+ and the lot fell to Mat·thiʹas, and he was counted* along with the 11 apostles.
Psalms 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
113 Praise Jah!*
Offer praise, you servants of Jehovah,
Praise the name of Jehovah.
2 May Jehovah’s name be praised
From now on and forever.+
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
Let Jehovah’s name be praised.+
4 Jehovah is high above all the nations;+
His glory is above the heavens.+
5 Who is like Jehovah our God,+
The one who dwells* on high?
6 He stoops down to look on heaven and earth,+
7 Raising the lowly from the dust.
He lifts up the poor from the ash heap*+
8 In order to make him sit with nobles,
With the nobles of his people.
John 15:9-17
9 Just as the Father has loved me,+ so I have loved you; remain in my love. 10 If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full.+ 12 This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.+ 13 No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life* in behalf of his friends.+ 14 You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.+ 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you all the things I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go and keep bearing fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that no matter what you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.+
17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.+
