David Among the Philistines

27 But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”

²⁴ “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges^(A) and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,^(B) and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.^(C)

To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷ “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia^(A) write:

²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

⁹ They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.^(A)

³ For you died,^(A) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

6 Listen to what the Lord says:

²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,^(A) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”^(B)

⁶ For in Christ Jesus^(A) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(B) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(C)