The Transfiguration^(A)(B)

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John^(C) the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.^(D) Listen to him!”^(E)

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”^{(F) 8} When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone^(G) what you have seen, until the Son of Man^(H) has been raised from the dead.”^(I)

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.^{(J) 12} But I tell you, Elijah has already come,^(K) and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.^(L) In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer^(M) at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.^(N)

The Plot to Kill Paul

¹² The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy^(A) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.^{(B) 13} More than forty men were involved in this plot. ¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.^{(C) 15} Now then, you and the Sanhedrin^(D) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

¹⁶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks^(E) and told Paul.

¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,^(F) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

²⁰ He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin^(G) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.^{(H) 21} Don’t give in to them, because more than forty^(I) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.^(J) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

²² The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

²³ Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen^[a] to go to Caesarea^(K) at nine tonight.^{(L) 24} Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”^(M)

²⁵ He wrote a letter as follows:

³¹ So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the cavalry^(Y) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.^{(Z) 33} When the cavalry^(AA) arrived in Caesarea,^(AB) they delivered the letter to the governor^(AC) and handed Paul over to him. ³⁴ The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,^{(AD) 35} he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers^(AE) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard^(AF) in Herod’s palace.

Psalm 38^[a]

A psalm of David. A petition.

The Burnt Offering

1 The Lord called to Moses^(A) and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.^(B) He said, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord,^(C) bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.^(D)

³ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering^(E) from the herd,^(F) you are to offer a male without defect.^(G) You must present it at the entrance to the tent^(H) of meeting so that it will be acceptable^(I) to the Lord. ⁴ You are to lay your hand on the head^(J) of the burnt offering,^(K) and it will be accepted^(L) on your behalf to make atonement^(M) for you. ⁵ You are to slaughter^(N) the young bull^(O) before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons^(P) the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar^(Q) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁶ You are to skin^(R) the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.^{(S) 7} The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood^(T) on the fire. ⁸ Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat,^(U) on the wood^(V) that is burning on the altar. ⁹ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(W) and the priest is to burn all of it^(X) on the altar.^(Y) It is a burnt offering,^(Z) a food offering,^(AA) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(AB)

¹⁰ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep^(AC) or the goats,^(AD) you are to offer a male without defect. ¹¹ You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar^(AE) before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(AF) 12} You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat,^(AG) on the wood that is burning on the altar. ¹³ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(AH) and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them^(AI) on the altar.^(AJ) It is a burnt offering,^(AK) a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁴ “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.^{(AL) 15} The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head^(AM) and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.^{(AN) 16} He is to remove the crop and the feathers^[a] and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes^(AO) are. ¹⁷ He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely,^(AP) and then the priest shall burn it on the wood^(AQ) that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

The Grain Offering

2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering^(AR) to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour.^(AS) They are to pour olive oil^(AT) on it,^(AU) put incense on it^{(AV) 2} and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour^(AW) and oil, together with all the incense,^(AX) and burn this as a memorial^[b] portion^(AY) on the altar, a food offering,^(AZ) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BA) 3} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BB) it is a most holy^(BC) part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven,^(BD) it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves^(BE) made without yeast and brushed with olive oil.^{(BF) 5} If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle,^(BG) it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. ⁶ Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. ⁷ If your grain offering is cooked in a pan,^(BH) it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil. ⁸ Bring the grain offering made of these things to the Lord; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. ⁹ He shall take out the memorial portion^(BI) from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BJ) 10} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BK) it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.^(BL)

¹¹ “‘Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast,^(BM) for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. ¹² You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits,^(BN) but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. ¹³ Season all your grain offerings with salt.^(BO) Do not leave the salt of the covenant^(BP) of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

¹⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits^(BQ) to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. ¹⁵ Put oil and incense^(BR) on it; it is a grain offering. ¹⁶ The priest shall burn the memorial portion^(BS) of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense,^(BT) as a food offering presented to the Lord.^(BU)

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,^(BV) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.^{(BW) 2} You are to lay your hand on the head^(BX) of your offering and slaughter it^(BY) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^(BZ) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash^(CA) the blood against the sides^(CB) of the altar.^{(CC) 3} From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs^(CD) and all the fat^(CE) that is connected to them, ⁴ both kidneys^(CF) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ⁵ Then Aaron’s sons^(CG) are to burn it on the altar^(CH) on top of the burnt offering^(CI) that is lying on the burning wood;^(CJ) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(CK)

⁶ “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering^(CL) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. ⁷ If you offer a lamb,^(CM) you are to present it before the Lord,^{(CN) 8} lay your hand on its head and slaughter it^(CO) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. ⁹ From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering^(CP) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁰ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ¹¹ The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CQ) as a food offering^(CR) presented to the Lord.^(CS)

¹² “‘If your offering is a goat,^(CT) you are to present it before the Lord, ¹³ lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash^(CU) its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(CV) 14} From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁵ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.^{(CW) 16} The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CX) as a food offering,^(CY) a pleasing aroma.^(CZ) All the fat^(DA) is the Lord’s.^(DB)

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(DC) for the generations to come,^(DD) wherever you live:^(DE) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(DF)’”

The Sin Offering

4 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally^(DG) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands^(DH)—

³ “‘If the anointed priest^(DI) sins,^(DJ) bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull^(DK) without defect^(DL) as a sin offering^[c](DM) for the sin he has committed.^{(DN) 4} He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord.^(DO) He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. ⁵ Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood^(DP) and carry it into the tent of meeting. ⁶ He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle^(DQ) some of it seven times before the Lord,^(DR) in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.^{(DS) 7} The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns^(DT) of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar^(DU) of burnt offering^(DV) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁸ He shall remove all the fat^(DW) from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, ⁹ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys^(DX)— ¹⁰ just as the fat is removed from the ox^[d](DY) sacrificed as a fellowship offering.^(DZ) Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.^{(EA) 11} But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines^(EB)— ¹² that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp^(EC) to a place ceremonially clean,^(ED) where the ashes^(EE) are thrown, and burn it^(EF) there in a wood fire on the ash heap.^(EG)

¹³ “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally^(EH) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt ¹⁴ and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull^(EI) as a sin offering^(EJ) and present it before the tent of meeting. ¹⁵ The elders^(EK) of the community are to lay their hands^(EL) on the bull’s head^(EM) before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.^{(EN) 16} Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood^(EO) into the tent of meeting. ¹⁷ He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle^(EP) it before the Lord^(EQ) seven times in front of the curtain. ¹⁸ He is to put some of the blood^(ER) on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord^(ES) in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar^(ET) of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ¹⁹ He shall remove all the fat^(EU) from it and burn it on the altar,^{(EV) 20} and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement^(EW) for the community, and they will be forgiven.^{(EX) 21} Then he shall take the bull outside the camp^(EY) and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.^(EZ)

²² “‘When a leader^(FA) sins unintentionally^(FB) and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt ²³ and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat^(FC) without defect. ²⁴ He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord.^(FD) It is a sin offering.^{(FE) 25} Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar^(FF) of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.^{(FG) 26} He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement^(FH) for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.^(FI)

²⁷ “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally^(FJ) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt ²⁸ and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering^(FK) for the sin they committed a female goat^(FL) without defect. ²⁹ They are to lay their hand on the head^(FM) of the sin offering^(FN) and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.^{(FO) 30} Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering^(FP) and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ³¹ They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar^(FQ) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(FR) In this way the priest will make atonement^(FS) for them, and they will be forgiven.^(FT)

³² “‘If someone brings a lamb^(FU) as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.^{(FV) 33} They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it^(FW) for a sin offering^(FX) at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.^{(FY) 34} Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.^{(FZ) 35} They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar^(GA) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.