²² For the sake^(A) of his great name^(B) the Lord will not reject^(C) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(D) you his own.

¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(A) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael^(B) king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint^(C) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha^(D) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah^(E) to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^(F) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^{(G) 18} Yet I reserve^(H) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed^(I) him.”

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.