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shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any "meat?" They answered him, No. And le said unto them, "Cast the net on the right "side of the ship, and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, " Bring of the fish which ye "have now caught." Simon Peter went up, and

a

Supposed to be the same as Bartholomew.

b Young men.

St. John the Evangelist.

L

The Jews were said to be naked when they wore only their inner garment.

drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time' that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest "thou me more than these?" He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, " Feed my lambs." He saith to him again the second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, "Feed my sheep." He saith unto him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ?" Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time," "Lovest thou me?" And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, "Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say "unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou "wouldest but when thou shalt be old, thou

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Not absolutely the third time, but the third recorded by St. John.

These three questions correspond with Peter's threefold denial of his divine Master. How solemn and forcible is the repetition?

b

"shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another "shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou "wouldest not." This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, "Fol"low me." Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is "that to thee? follow thou me." Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, "If I "will that he tarry till I come, what is that to "thee? This is the disciple which testifieth "of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

a

d

Alluding to his death, when he should suffer upon the cross, which happened a little before the destruction of Jerusalem.

b St. John the Evangelist.

How shall this man close his life?

Till the destruction of Jerusalem, which St. John alone, of all the apostles, outlived.

The church of Christ having been instructed by St. John, bear witness that what he delivered in his gospel is

true.

152. Jesus instructs his disciples concerning the preaching of the gospel.

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AND he said unto them, "These are the "words which I spake unto you, while I was "yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, "which were written in the law of Moses, and "in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, "Thus it is written, and "thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise "from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, be"ginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses "of these things. Go ye therefore, and teach "all nations, baptizing them in the name of "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy "Ghost: teaching them to observe all things "whatsoever I have commanded you. He "that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, "but he that believeth not shall be damned. "And, behold, I send the promise of my "Father upon you: and these signs shall fol"low them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with "new tongues; they shall take up serpents;

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a Make disciples of all nations.

b

d

The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit promised by the Father.

These miracles.

• Acts xxviii. 5.

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"and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall "not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. But tarry ye "in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued "with power from on high. And lo, I am "with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Amen.'

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b

a

153. The Ascension of Christ.

Place.

Bethany.

So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he led them out as as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Time.

A. D. 33.
The days

And they worshipped him, and rewhich inter- turned to Jerusalem with great joy; vened be- and were continually in the temple, tween the praising and blessing God.*

Ascension

and feast of

Pentecost.

And they went forth, and preached Time. every where, the Lord working with After the them, and confirming the word with Pentecost. signs following.

A. D. 33.

To fulfil your sacred mission.

Though not personally, yet by the spirit.

To that part of Mount Olivet, which is in the district of Bethany.

d

They employed their time in frequenting the temple, and in praising and blessing God, while they humbly waited for the promise of the Father, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

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