14 That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron^(A) on the outskirts of Gibeah.^[a](B) The troops with him numbered about six hundred.^{(C) 3} Ahijah,^(D) who was wearing an ephod,^(E) was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod^(F) son of Phinehas, son of Eli the Lord’s priest at Shiloh.^(G) But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

⁴ There were sharp columns^[b] of rock on both sides of the pass^(H) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh; ⁵ one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. ⁶ Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men.^(I) Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”^(J)

⁷ His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. Go ahead! I’m completely with you.”

⁸ “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. ⁹ If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”

¹¹ They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” ¹² The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said.

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”^{(K) 13} Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. ¹⁴ In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.

A Defeat for the Philistines

¹⁵ Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties^(L) were terrified. The earth shook,^(M) and terror spread from God.^{[c](N) 16} When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. ¹⁷ So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

¹⁸ Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites^[d] at that time. ¹⁹ While Saul spoke to the priest,^(O) the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”^[e]

²⁰ Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there the Philistines were, fighting against each other in great confusion!^{(P) 21} There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites^(Q) who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim^(R) heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. ²³ So the Lord saved Israel that day.^(S)

Saul’s Rash Oath

The battle extended beyond Beth-aven, ²⁴ and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had^[f] placed the troops under an oath:^(T) “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

²⁵ Everyone^[g] went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it^[h] because they feared the oath. ²⁷ However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb.^(U) When he ate the honey,^[i] he had renewed energy.^{[j](V) 28} Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”

²⁹ Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land.^(W) Just look at how I have renewed energy^[k] because I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”

³¹ The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash^(X) all the way to Aijalon.^(Y) Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, ³² they rushed to the plunder,^(Z) took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it. ³³ Some reported to Saul, “Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.”^(AA)

Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.’” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.^(AB)

³⁶ Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!”

“Do whatever you want,” the troops replied.

But the priest^(AC) said, “Let’s approach God here.”^(AD)

³⁷ So Saul inquired of God,^(AE) “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.^(AF)

³⁸ Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s investigate^[l] how this sin has occurred today. ³⁹ As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.

⁴⁰ So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”

And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

⁴¹ So Saul said to the Lord, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”^[m](AG) Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

⁴² Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected. ⁴³ Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.”^(AH)

Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey^(AI) with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die!”

⁴⁴ Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely^(AJ) if you do not die, Jonathan!”

⁴⁵ But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel! No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground,^(AK) for he worked with God’s help today.”^(AL) So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

Summary of Saul’s Kingship

⁴⁷ When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites,^(AM) Edom, the kings of Zobah,^(AN) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.^{[n] 48} He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites,^(AO) and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.

⁴⁹ Saul’s sons^(AP) were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab,^(AQ) his firstborn, and Michal,^(AR) the younger. ⁵⁰ The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.^{(AS) 51} Saul’s father was Kish.^(AT) Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.

⁵² The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.^(AU)

Psalm 124

The Lord Is on Our Side

A song of ascents. Of David.

Cornelius’s Vision

10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.^{(A) 2} He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.^{(B) 3} About three in the afternoon^[a] he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”^(C)

⁴ Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.^{(D) 5} Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”^(E)

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. ⁸ After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The^(F) next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof^(G) about noon.^{[b] 10} He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened^(H) and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. ¹² In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. ¹³ A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”^(I)

¹⁵ Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”^{(J) 16} This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

Peter Visits Cornelius

¹⁷ While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.^{(K) 20} Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”^(L)

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”

²² They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”^{(M) 23} Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.^{(N) 24} The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

²⁶ But Peter lifted him up and said, “Stand up. I myself am also a man.”^{(O) 27} While talking with him, he went in and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸ Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner,^(P) but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.^{(Q) 29} That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So may I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon,^[c] I was^[d] praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me^{(R) 31} and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. ³² Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’^{[e] 33} So I immediately sent for you, and it was good of you to come. So now we are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Good News for Gentiles

³⁴ Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,^{(S) 35} but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.^{(T) 37} You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.^{(U) 39} We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree.^{(V) 40} God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹ not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.^{(W) 42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.^{(X) 43} All the prophets testify^(Y) about him that through his name^(Z) everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”^(AA)

Gentile Conversion and Baptism

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down^(AB) on all those who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.^{(AC) 46} For they heard them speaking in tongues^[f] and declaring the greatness of God.

Then Peter responded, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ^{(AD) 48} He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(AE) Then they asked him to stay for a few days.