⁵ David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

⁶ As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.^{[a](A) 7} And the women sang to one another as they made merry,

⁸ Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?”^{(C) 9} So Saul eyed David from that day on.

Saul Tries to Kill David

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand,^{(D) 11} and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.^(E)

¹² Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.^{(F) 13} So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand, and David marched out and came in, leading the army.^{(G) 14} David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.^{(H) 15} When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.^(I)

²⁷ David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred^[a] of the Philistines, and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.^{(A) 28} But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him, ²⁹ Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy from that time forward.

³⁰ Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his fame became very great.^(B)

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.^{(A) 20} But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists^[a] also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.^{(B) 21} The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.^{(C) 22} News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion,^{(D) 24} for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.^{(E) 25} Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,^{(F) 26} and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”^(G)

²⁷ At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.^{(H) 28} One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world, and this took place during the reign of Claudius.^{(I) 29} The disciples determined that, according to their ability, each would send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea;^{(J) 30} this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.^(K)

Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House

²⁹ As soon as they^[a] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.^{(A) 30} Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹ He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

³² That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons.^{(B) 33} And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴ And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.^(C)

A Preaching Tour in Galilee

³⁵ In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.^{(D) 36} And Simon and his companions hunted for him. ³⁷ When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” ³⁸ He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also, for that is what I came out to do.”^{(E) 39} And he went throughout all Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.^(F)

Jesus Cleanses a Man with a Skin Disease

⁴⁰ A man with a skin disease came to him begging him, and kneeling^[b] he said to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(G) 41} Moved with pity,^[c] Jesus^[d] stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I am willing. Be made clean!” ⁴² Immediately the skin disease left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as a testimony to them.”^{(H) 45} But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word, so that Jesus^[e] could no longer go into a town openly but stayed out in the country, and people came to him from every quarter.^(I)