Psalm 147

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

²⁷ Now a man of God^(A) came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? ²⁸ I chose^(B) your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,^(C) and to wear an ephod^(D) in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings^(E) presented by the Israelites. ²⁹ Why do you^[a] scorn my sacrifice and offering^(F) that I prescribed for my dwelling?^(G) Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

³⁰ “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.^(H)’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor,^(I) but those who despise^(J) me will be disdained.^{(K) 31} The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,^{(L) 32} and you will see distress^(M) in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.^{(N) 33} Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants^(O) will die in the prime of life.

³⁴ “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign^(P) to you—they will both die^(Q) on the same day.^{(R) 35} I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,^(S) who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed^(T) one always. ³⁶ Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead,^(U) “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.^(V)”’”

⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(D) so that no one can boast.^(E)

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders^(A) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^(B) in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(C) 13} No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^{(D) 14} Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^{(E) 15} As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.^{(F) 16} Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.^(G)