Psalm 132^(A)

A song of ascents.

The Book of the Law Found^(A)

22 Josiah^(B) was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.^{(C) 2} He did what was right^(D) in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right^(E) or to the left.

³ In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan^(F) son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the Lord. He said: ⁴ “Go up to Hilkiah^(G) the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected^(H) from the people. ⁵ Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair^(I) the temple of the Lord— ⁶ the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple.^{(J) 7} But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”^(K)

⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law^(L) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹ Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.^(M)

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious^(A) and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(B) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(C) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(D) and the Son of Man^(E) standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city^(F) and began to stone him.^(G) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(H) laid their coats^(I) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(J)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(K) 60} Then he fell on his knees^(L) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”^(M) When he had said this, he fell asleep.^(N)

8 And Saul^(O) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered^(P) throughout Judea and Samaria.^(Q)