Saul’s Deliverance of Jabesh-gilead

11 Nahash^[a](A) the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead.^(B) All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty^(C) with us, and we will serve you.”

² Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye^(D) and humiliate all Israel.”^(E)

³ “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”

⁴ When the messengers came to Gibeah,^(F) Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.^{(G) 5} Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

⁶ When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him,^(H) and his anger burned furiously. ⁷ He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces,^(I) and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.”^(J) As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.^(K)

⁸ Saul counted them at Bezek.^(L) There were three hundred thousand^[b](M) Israelites and thirty thousand^[c] men from Judah. ⁹ He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

¹⁰ Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.”

¹¹ The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions.^(N) During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Saul’s Confirmation as King

¹² Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not^[d] reign over us?^(O) Give us those men so we can kill them!” ^(P)

¹³ But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel.”^(Q)

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.” ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord’s presence^(R) they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings^(S) in the Lord’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel’s Final Public Speech

12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.^{(T) 2} Now you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now. ³ Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken?^(U) Who have I wronged or mistreated? Who gave me a bribe to overlook something?^[e](V) I will return it to you.”

⁴ “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.

⁵ He said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything^(W) in my hand.”^(X)

“He is a witness,” they said.

⁶ Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord, who appointed Moses and Aaron^(Y) and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.^{[f] 7} Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before the Lord about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.

⁸ “When Jacob went to Egypt,^[g] your ancestors cried out to the Lord,^(Z) and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.^{(AA) 9} But they forgot the Lord their God, so he handed them over to Sisera^(AB) commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab.^(AC) These enemies fought against them. ¹⁰ Then they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the Lord and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies,^(AD) and we will serve you.’ ¹¹ So the Lord sent Jerubbaal,^(AE) Barak,^[h](AF) Jephthah,^(AG) and Samuel.^(AH) He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely. ¹² But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’—even though the Lord your God is your king.

¹³ “Now here is the king you’ve chosen,^(AI) the one you requested.^(AJ) Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you. ¹⁴ If you fear the Lord,^(AK) worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God. ¹⁵ However, if you disobey the Lord^(AL) and rebel against his command, the Lord’s hand will be against you^(AM) as it was against your ancestors.^[i](AN)

¹⁶ “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.^{(AO) 17} Isn’t the wheat harvest today?^(AP) I will call on the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”^{(AQ) 18} Samuel called on the Lord, and on that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.^(AR)

¹⁹ They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants^(AS) so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”^(AT)

²⁰ Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord.^(AU) Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Don’t turn away to follow worthless^[j] things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.^{(AV) 22} The Lord will not abandon his people,^(AW) because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.^(AX)

²³ “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.^(AY) I will teach you the good and right way. ²⁴ Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.^{(AZ) 25} However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”^(BA)

Saul’s Failure

13 Saul was thirty years^[k] old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years^[l] over Israel.^{[m] 2} He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash^(BB) and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah^(BC) of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

³ Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison^[n](BD) in Gibeah,^[o] and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land^(BE) saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” ^{[p](BF) 4} And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

⁵ The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand^[q] chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore.^(BG) They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.^[r](BH)

⁶ The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.^{(BI) 7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. ⁸ He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set,^(BJ) but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. ⁹ So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering.

¹⁰ Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, ¹¹ and Samuel asked, “What have you done?”

Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, ¹² I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish.^(BK) You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.^(BL) It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,^{(BM) 14} but now your reign will not endure.^(BN) The Lord has found a man after his own heart,^[s](BO) and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.” ¹⁵ Then Samuel went^[t] from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba^(BP) of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. ¹⁷ Raiding parties^(BQ) went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah^(BR) road leading to the land of Shual. ¹⁸ The next division headed toward the Beth-horon^(BS) road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley^(BT) toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel^(BU) because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” ²⁰ So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.^{[u] 21} The price was two-thirds of a shekel^[v] for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod. ²² So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul^(BV) and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

²³ Now a Philistine garrison^(BW) took control of the pass at Michmash.

Psalm 38

Prayer of a Suffering Sinner

A psalm of David to bring remembrance.^(A)

The Damascus Road

9 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples^(A) of the Lord. He went to the high priest^{(B) 2} and requested letters^(C) from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,^(D) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As^(E) he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.^{(F) 8} Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. ⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

Saul’s Baptism

¹⁰ There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.^(G)

¹¹ “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus^(H) named Saul, since he is praying there. ¹² In a vision^[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”^(I)

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.^{(J) 14} And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”^(K)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument^(L) to take my name to Gentiles,^(M) kings, and Israelites.^{(N) 16} I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(O)

¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^(P)

¹⁸ At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ And after taking some food, he regained his strength.^(Q)

Saul Proclaiming the Messiah

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. ²⁰ Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”^(R)

²¹ All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ^(S)

²² But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,^{(T) 25} but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.^(U)

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When he arrived in Jerusalem,^(V) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. ²⁷ Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly^(W) in the name of Jesus.^{(X) 28} Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.^{(Y) 30} When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.^(Z)

The Church’s Growth

³¹ So the church^(AA) throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

The Healing of Aeneas

³² As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints^(AB) who lived in Lydda.^{(AC) 33} There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,”^[b] and immediately he got up.^{(AD) 35} So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon^(AE) saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶ In Joppa^(AF) there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works^(AG) and acts of charity. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” ³⁹ Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.^{(AH) 41} He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. ⁴² This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon,^(AI) a leather tanner.