Psalm 145^[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

A Crown for Joshua

⁹ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁰ “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.^(A) Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. ¹¹ Take the silver and gold and make a crown,^(B) and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua^(C) son of Jozadak.^{[a](D) 12} Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,^(E) and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.^{(F) 13} It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he^[b] will be a priest^(G) on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ ¹⁴ The crown will be given to Heldai,^[c] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen^[d] son of Zephaniah as a memorial^(H) in the temple of the Lord. ¹⁵ Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord,^(I) and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(J) This will happen if you diligently obey^(K) the Lord your God.”

¹⁰ When the governor^(A) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. ¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days^(B) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,^(C) or stirring up a crowd^(D) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.^{(E) 14} However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors^(F) as a follower of the Way,^(G) which they call a sect.^(H) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,^{(I) 15} and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection^(J) of both the righteous and the wicked.^{(K) 16} So I strive always to keep my conscience clear^(L) before God and man.

¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor^(M) and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean^(N) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.^{(O) 19} But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,^(P) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.^{(Q) 20} Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹ unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”^(R)

²² Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,^(S) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard^(T) but to give him some freedom^(U) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.^(V)