David Flees to the Philistines

27 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” ² So David arose and went over, he and ^(A)the six hundred men who were with him, ^(B)to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³ And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with ^(C)his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. ⁴ And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

⁵ Then David said to Achish, “If ^(D)I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” ⁶ So that day Achish gave him ^(E)Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. ^7 (F)And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

⁸ Now David ^(G)and his men went up and made raids against ^(H)the Geshurites, ^(I)the Girzites, and ^(J)the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, ^(K)as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. ⁹ And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. ¹⁰ When Achish asked, “Where have you ^(L)made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of ^(M)the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of ^(N)the Kenites.” ¹¹ And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. ¹² And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

28 In those days ^(O)the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” ² David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

³ Now ^(P)Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him ^(Q)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put ^(R)the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. ⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and encamped ^(S)at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped ^(T)at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶ And when Saul inquired of the Lord, ^(U)the Lord did not answer him, either ^(V)by dreams, or ^(W)by Urim, or by prophets. ⁷ Then Saul said to his servants, ^(X)“Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at ^(Y)En-dor.”

⁸ So Saul ^(Z)disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, ^(AA)“Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” ⁹ The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, ^(AB)how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” ¹⁰ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ^(AC)“As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” ¹¹ Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” ¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” ¹³ The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” ¹⁴ He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped ^(AD)in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and ^(AE)God has turned away from me and ^(AF)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” ¹⁶ And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for ^(AG)the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. ^18 (AH)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹ Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you ^(AI)and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

²⁰ Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. ²¹ And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. ^(AJ)I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. ²² Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” ²³ He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. ²⁴ Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, ²⁵ and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Glorious Things of You Are Spoken

A Psalm of ^(A)the Sons of Korah. A Song.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O ^(A)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began ^(B)to do and teach, ² until the day when ^(C)he was taken up, after he ^(D)had given commands ^(E)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ^3 (F)He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴ And while staying^[a] with them ^(G)he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for ^(H)John baptized with water, ^(I)but you will be baptized ^(J)with^[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, ^(K)will you at this time ^(L)restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, ^(M)“It is not for you to know ^(N)times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive ^(O)power ^(P)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and ^(Q)you will be ^(R)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and ^(S)Samaria, and ^(T)to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, ^(U)he was lifted up, and ^(V)a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, ^(W)two ^(X)men stood by them in ^(Y)white robes, ¹¹ and said, ^(Z)“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, ^(AA)will ^(AB)come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹² Then ^(AC)they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. ¹³ And when they had entered, they went up to ^(AD)the upper room, where they were staying, ^(AE)Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon ^(AF)the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All these ^(AG)with one accord ^(AH)were devoting themselves to prayer, together with ^(AI)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and ^(AJ)his brothers.^[c]

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among ^(AK)the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶ “Brothers, ^(AL)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^(AM)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For ^(AN)he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in ^(AO)this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man ^(AP)acquired a field with ^(AQ)the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong^[d] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called ^(AR)in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during ^(AU)all the time that the Lord Jesus ^(AV)went in and out among us, ^22 (AW)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when ^(AX)he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us ^(AY)a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called ^(AZ)Barsabbas, who was also called ^(BA)Justus, and ^(BB)Matthias. ²⁴ And ^(BC)they prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^(BD)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in ^(BE)this ministry and ^(BF)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When ^(BG)the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like ^(BH)a mighty rushing wind, and ^(BI)it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues ^(BJ)as of fire appeared to them and rested^[e] on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all ^(BK)filled with the Holy Spirit and began ^(BL)to speak in other tongues ^(BM)as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And ^(BN)at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And ^(BO)they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking ^(BP)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and ^(BQ)Medes and ^(BR)Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and ^(BS)proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And ^(BT)all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others ^(BU)mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, ^(BV)since it is only the third hour of the day.^{[f] 16} But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, ^(CE)a man attested to you by God ^(CF)with ^(CG)mighty works and wonders and signs that ^(CH)God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus,^{[g] (CI)}delivered up according to ^(CJ)the definite plan and ^(CK)foreknowledge of God, ^(CL)you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ^24 (CM)God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because ^(CN)it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about ^(CU)the patriarch David ^(CV)that he both died and ^(CW)was buried, and ^(CX)his tomb is with us to this day. ^30 (CY)Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that ^(CZ)God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that ^(DA)he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus ^(DB)God raised up, ^(DC)and of that we all are witnesses. ^33 (DD)Being therefore ^(DE)exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from ^(DF)the Father ^(DG)the promise of the Holy Spirit, ^(DH)he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For ^(DI)David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that ^(DK)God has made him ^(DL)both Lord and Christ, this Jesus ^(DM)whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when ^(DN)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, ^(DO)what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, ^(DP)“Repent and ^(DQ)be baptized every one of you ^(DR)in the name of Jesus Christ ^(DS)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive ^(DT)the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(DU)the promise is for you and ^(DV)for your children and for all ^(DW)who are far off, everyone ^(DX)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ^(DY)“Save yourselves from this ^(DZ)crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and ^(EA)there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And ^(EB)they devoted themselves to the apostles' ^(EC)teaching and the ^(ED)fellowship, to ^(EE)the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[h] came upon every soul, and ^(EF)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ^(EG)had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ^(EH)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ^(EI)attending the temple ^(EJ)together and ^(EK)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ^(EL)with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(EM)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(EN)added to their number ^(EO)day by day those who ^(EP)were being saved.

The Lame Beggar Healed

3 Now Peter and John were ^(EQ)going up to the temple at ^(ER)the hour of prayer, ^(ES)the ninth hour.^{[i] 2} And a man ^(ET)lame from birth was being carried, ^(EU)whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate ^(EV)to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, ^(EW)“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. ^(EX)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And ^(EY)leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And ^(EZ)all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

^11 (FA)While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in ^(FB)the portico called Solomon's. ¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ^13 (FC)The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ^(FD)the God of our fathers, ^(FE)glorified his servant^[j] Jesus, whom ^(FF)you delivered over and ^(FG)denied in the presence of Pilate, ^(FH)when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied ^(FI)the Holy and ^(FJ)Righteous One, and ^(FK)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and you killed ^(FL)the Author of life, ^(FM)whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And ^(FN)his name—by ^(FO)faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is ^(FP)through Jesus^[k] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that ^(FQ)you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God ^(FR)foretold ^(FS)by the mouth of all the prophets, that ^(FT)his Christ would ^(FU)suffer, he thus fulfilled. ^19 (FV)Repent therefore, and ^(FW)turn back, that ^(FX)your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ ^(FY)appointed for you, Jesus, ^21 (FZ)whom heaven must receive until the time for ^(GA)restoring all the things about which ^(GB)God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you ^(GC)a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen ^(GD)to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet ^(GE)shall be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴ And ^(GF)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ^25 (GG)You are the sons of the prophets and of ^(GH)the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ^(GI)‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ^26 (GJ)God, ^(GK)having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, ^(GL)to bless you ^(GM)by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”