Psalm 2

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

¹⁶ Saul’s lookouts^(A) at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. ¹⁷ Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

¹⁸ Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring^(B) the ark^(C) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)^{[a] 19} While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,^(D) “Withdraw your hand.”

²⁰ Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking^(E) each other with their swords. ²¹ Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went^(F) over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelites who had hidden^(G) in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. ²³ So on that day the Lord saved^(H) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.^(I)

Jonathan Eats Honey

²⁴ Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath,^(J) saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.

²⁵ The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb.^(K) He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.^{[b] 28} Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”

²⁹ Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble^(L) for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(A) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(B) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(C) him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(D) in Jerusalem.^{(E) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(F) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(G)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(H) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(I) and their kings^(J) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(K)

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(L) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^{(M) 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^{(N) 19} and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(O) in Damascus.^(P)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(A) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(B) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[a](C) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(D)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(E) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(F)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(G) They offered him wine vinegar^{(H) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(I) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(J)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(K)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(L)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[b]”^(M)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(N)