Daily Reading for Thursday, April 18th, 2024

Reading 1, Acts 8:26-40

²⁶ The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.'

²⁷ So he set off on his journey. Now an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuch and an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia; he was her chief treasurer.

²⁸ He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join that chariot.'

³⁰ When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'

³¹ He replied, 'How could I, unless I have someone to guide me?' So he urged Philip to get in and sit by his side.

³² Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this: Like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb in front of its shearers, he never opens his mouth.

³³ In his humiliation fair judgement was denied him. Who will ever talk about his descendants, since his life on earth has been cut short?

³⁴ The eunuch addressed Philip and said, 'Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?'

³⁵ Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the good news of Jesus to him.

³⁶ Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look,is some water; is there anything to prevent my being baptised?'

³⁷

³⁸ He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and he baptised him.

³⁹ But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

⁴⁰ Philip appeared in Azotus and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town as far as Caesarea.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 66:8-9, 16-17, 20

⁸ Nations, bless our God, let the sound of his praise be heard;

⁹ he brings us to life and keeps our feet from stumbling.

¹⁶ Come and listen, all who fear God, while I tell what he has done for me.

¹⁷ To him I cried aloud, high praise was on my tongue.

²⁰ Blessed be God who has not turned away my prayer, nor his own faithful love from me.

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