⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(A) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(B) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(C)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(D) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(E) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(F) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(G)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(H) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(I) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(J) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(K) came powerfully upon David.^(L) Samuel then went to Ramah.

⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

⁹ Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned^(A) the king has but one law:^(B) that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter^(C) to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent^(D) at this time, relief^(E) and deliverance^(F) for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”^(G)

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast^(H) for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”^(I)

¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked^(A) to sift all of you as wheat.^{(B) 32} But I have prayed for you,^(C) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”^(D)

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”^(E)

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing^(A) Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed,^(B) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{(C) 8} Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,^(D) Pontus^(E) and Asia,^{[a](F) 10} Phrygia^(G) and Pamphylia,^(H) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;^(I) visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”^(J)

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!^(K)