Book of Common Prayer

3 The child Sh’mu’el continued ministering to Adonai under ‘Eli’s direction. Now, in those days Adonai rarely spoke, and visions were few. ² Once, during that period, ‘Eli had gone to bed — his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that it was hard for him to see. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out; and Sh’mu’el had lain down to sleep in the sanctuary of Adonai, where the ark of God was.

⁴ Adonai called, “Sh’mu’el!” and he answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ Then he ran to ‘Eli and said, “Here I am — you called me?” But he said, “I didn’t call you; go back, and lie down.” So he went and lay down. ⁶ Adonai called a second time, “Sh’mu’el!” Sh’mu’el got up, went to ‘Eli and said, “Here I am — you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷ Now Sh’mu’el didn’t yet know Adonai; the word of Adonai had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ Adonai called, “Sh’mu’el!” again, a third time. He got up, went to ‘Eli and said, “Here I am — you called me.” At last ‘Eli realized it was Adonai calling the child. ⁹ So ‘Eli said to Sh’mu’el, “Go, and lie down. If you are called again, say, ‘Speak, Adonai; your servant is listening.’ Sh’mu’el went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ Adonai came and stood, then spoke as at the other times: “Sh’mu’el! Sh’mu’el!” Then Sh’mu’el said, “Speak; your servant is listening.” ¹¹ Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, “Look! I am going to do something in Isra’el that will make both ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. ¹² On that day I will do against ‘Eli everything I have said with regard to his family, from beginning to end. ¹³ For I have told him that I will execute judgment against his family forever, because of his wickedness in not rebuking his sons, even though he knew that they had brought a curse on themselves. ¹⁴ Therefore I have sworn to the family of ‘Eli that the wickedness of ‘Eli’s family will never be atoned for by any sacrifice or offering.”

¹⁵ Sh’mu’el lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of Adonai. But Sh’mu’el was afraid to tell ‘Eli the vision. ¹⁶ Then ‘Eli called Sh’mu’el: “Sh’mu’el, my son!” He answered, “Here I am.” ¹⁷ ‘Eli said, “What did he say to you? Please, don’t hide it from me; may God do whatever he said and worse, if you hide from me anything he said to you.” ¹⁸ So Sh’mu’el told him every word and hid nothing. ‘Eli replied, “It is Adonai; let him do what seems good to him.”

¹⁹ Sh’mu’el kept growing, Adonai was with him, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰ All Isra’el from Dan to Be’er-Sheva became aware that Sh’mu’el had been confirmed as a prophet of Adonai. ²¹ Adonai continued appearing in Shiloh, for Adonai revealed himself to Sh’mu’el in Shiloh by the word of Adonai.

³⁷ On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! ³⁹ For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!”

⁴⁰ He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”

⁴¹ So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.

⁴² They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries. ⁴⁴ All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common; ⁴⁵ in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need. ⁴⁶ Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved.

⁵ As some people were remarking about the Temple, how beautiful its stonework and memorial decorations were, he said, ⁶ “The time is coming when what you see here will be totally destroyed — not a single stone will be left standing!” ⁷ They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” ⁸ He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t panic. For these things must happen first, but the end will not follow immediately.”

¹⁰ Then he told them, “Peoples will fight each other, nations will fight each other, ¹¹ there will be great earthquakes, there will be epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven. ¹² But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me, ¹³ but it will prove an opportunity for you to bear witness. ¹⁴ So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand; ¹⁵ for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; some of you they will have put to death; ¹⁷ and everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will be lost. ¹⁹ By standing firm you will save your lives.