Psalm 71^(A)

Josiah’s Reforms^(A)(B)(C)

34 Josiah^(D) was eight years old when he became king,^(E) and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. ² He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David,^(F) not turning aside to the right or to the left.

³ In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God^(G) of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. ⁴ Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles^(H) and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.^{(I) 5} He burned^(J) the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. ⁶ In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, ⁷ he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder^(K) and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on^(A) all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter^(B) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out^(C) even on Gentiles.^{(D) 46} For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a](E) and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.^(F) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”^{(G) 48} So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(H) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.