God’s Sovereign Choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word^(A) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^(B)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(B) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(D) of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[a] 10} Appoint Aaron^(F) and his sons to serve as priests;^(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(H)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(I) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(J) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(K) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(L) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(M)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(N) 15} “Count^(O) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(P) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(Y) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(Z) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(AA) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(AB) and tent, its coverings,^(AC) the curtain at the entrance^(AD) to the tent of meeting,^{(AE) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(AF), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AG) and the ropes^(AH)—and everything^(AI) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(AJ) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(AK) these were the Kohathite^(AL) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(AM) was 8,600.^[b] The Kohathites were responsible^(AN) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(AO) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(AP) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AQ) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(AR) the table,^(AS) the lampstand,^(AT) the altars,^(AU) the articles^(AV) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(AW) and everything related to their use.^{(AX) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(AY) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(AZ) for the care of the sanctuary.^(BA)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BB) these were the Merarite clans.^{(BC) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(BD) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(BE) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(BF) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BG) its crossbars,^(BH) posts,^(BI) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(BJ) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BK) with their bases, tent pegs^(BL) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(BM) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(BN) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(BO) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(BP)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(BQ) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(BR)

Simon the Sorcerer

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery^(A) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,^{(B) 10} and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”^{(C) 11} They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God^(D) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,^(E) both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles^(F) he saw.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria^(G) had accepted the word of God,^(H) they sent Peter and John^(I) to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,^{(J) 16} because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;^(K) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(L) 17} Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,^(M) and they received the Holy Spirit.^(N)

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!^{(O) 21} You have no part or share^(P) in this ministry, because your heart is not right^(Q) before God. ²² Repent^(R) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me^(S) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea^(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;^(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon^(C) he had a vision.^(D) He distinctly saw an angel^(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

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.