Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 150^[a]

¹⁹ They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army^[a] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”

²⁰ So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it.^[b] After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp^[c] as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another. ²² After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer,^[d] he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. ²³ As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did,^[e] and David heard it. ²⁴ When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated^[f] from his presence and were very afraid.

²⁵ The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so^[g] to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father’s house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.”

²⁶ David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation?^[h] For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?” ²⁷ The soldiers^[i] told him what had been promised, saying,^[j] “This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.”

²⁸ When David’s^[k] oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry^[l] with David and said, “Why have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the wilderness? I am familiar with your pride and deceit!^[m] You have come down here to watch the battle.”

²⁹ David replied, “What have I done now? Can’t I say anything?”^{[n] 30} Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question,^[o] but they^[p] gave him the same answer as before. ³¹ When David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.^[q]

³² David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged.^[r] Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

Further Trouble for the Apostles

¹⁷ Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees^[a]),^[b] and they were filled with jealousy.^{[c] 18} They^[d] laid hands on^[e] the apostles and put them in a public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord^[f] opened^[g] the doors of the prison,^[h] led them out,^[i] and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple courts^[j] and proclaim^[k] to the people all the words of this life.” ²¹ When they heard this, they entered the temple courts^[l] at daybreak and began teaching.^[m]

Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin^[n]—that is, the whole high council^[o] of the Israelites^[p]—and sent to the jail to have the apostles^[q] brought before them.^{[r] 22} But the officers^[s] who came for them^[t] did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,^{[u] 23} “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them,^[v] we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when the commander^[w] of the temple guard^[x] and the chief priests heard this report,^[y] they were greatly puzzled concerning it,^[z] wondering what this could^[aa] be. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts^[ab] and teaching^[ac] the people!” ²⁶ Then the commander^[ad] of the temple guard^[ae] went with the officers^[af] and brought the apostles^[ag] without the use of force^[ah] (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).^[ai]