Book of Common Prayer

²³ It was in the thirty-first year of Asa king of Y’hudah that ‘Omri began his reign over Isra’el, and he ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirtzah. ²⁴ He bought Mount Shomron from Shemer for 132 pounds of silver. On the mountain he built a city, which he named Shomron after Shemer, who had owned the mountain.

²⁵ ‘Omri did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, outdoing all his predecessors in wickedness; ²⁶ for he lived entirely in the manner of Yarov‘am the son of N’vat, committing the sins with which he made Isra’el sin, thereby angering Adonai the God of Isra’el with their worthless idols. ²⁷ Other activities of ‘Omri and the power he demonstrated are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra’el. ²⁸ Then ‘Omri slept with his ancestors and was buried in Shomron, and Ach’av his son became king in his place.

²⁹ It was in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Y’hudah that Ach’av the son of ‘Omri began his rule over Isra’el; Ach’av the son of ‘Omri ruled twenty-two years over Isra’el in Shomron. ³⁰ Ach’av the son of ‘Omri did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, outdoing all his predecessors [in wickedness]. ³¹ But then, as if it had been a trifling thing for him to commit the sins of Yarov‘am the son of N’vat, he took as his wife Izevel the daughter of Etba‘al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba‘al and worshipped him. ³² He erected an altar for Ba‘al in the house of Ba‘al, which he had built in Shomron. ³³ Ach’av also set up the asherah; indeed, Ach’av did more to anger Adonai the God of Isra’el, than all the kings of Isra’el preceding him. ³⁴ It was during his time that Hi’el of Beit-El rebuilt Yericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of his firstborn son Aviram and erected its gates at the cost of his youngest son S’guv. This was in keeping with the word of Adonai spoken through Y’hoshua the son of Nun.

¹² Now, brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped in advancing the Good News. ¹³ It has become clear to the whole palace and to everyone else that it is because of the Messiah that I am in chains. ¹⁴ Also, my being in prison has given most of the brothers in the Lord confidence, so that they have become much more bold in speaking the word of God fearlessly. ¹⁵ True, some are proclaiming the Messiah out of jealousy and rivalry, but others are doing it in goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter act from love, aware that I am put where I am for defending the Good News; ¹⁷ while the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition, with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison. ¹⁸ But so what? All that matters is that in every way, whether honestly or in pretense, the Messiah is being proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will work out for my deliverance,^[a] because of your prayers and the support I get from the Spirit of Yeshua the Messiah. ²⁰ It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead. ²¹ For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain. ²² But if by living on in the body I can do fruitful work, then I don’t know which to choose. ²³ I am caught in a dilemma: my desire is to go off and be with the Messiah — that is better by far — ²⁴ but because of you, the greater need is to stay on in the body. ²⁵ Yes, I am convinced of this; so I know I will stay on with you in order to help you progress in the faith and have joy in it. ²⁶ Then, through my being with you again, you will have even greater reason for boasting about the Messiah Yeshua.

²⁷ Only conduct your lives in a way worthy of the Good News of the Messiah; so that whether I come and see you or I hear about you from a distance, you stand firm, united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, ²⁸ not frightened by anything the opposition does. This will be for them an indication that they are headed for destruction and you for deliverance. And this is from God; ²⁹ because for the Messiah’s sake it has been granted to you not only to trust in him but also to suffer on his behalf, ³⁰ to fight the same battles you once saw me fight and now hear that I am still fighting.

16 When Shabbat was over, Miryam of Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya‘akov, and Shlomit bought spices in order to go and anoint Yeshua. ² Very early the next day, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. ³ They were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” ⁴ Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already. ⁵ On entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right; and they were dumbfounded. ⁶ But he said, “Don’t be so surprised! You’re looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He has risen, he’s not here! Look at the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go and tell his talmidim, especially Kefa, that he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there, just as he told you.” ⁸ Trembling but ecstatic they went out and fled from the tomb, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

^[a]9 When Yeshua rose early Sunday, he appeared first to Miryam of Magdala, from whom he had expelled seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him, as they were crying and mourning. ¹¹ But when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they wouldn’t believe it.

¹² After that, Yeshua appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking into the country. ¹³ They went and told the others, but they didn’t believe them either.

¹⁴ Later, Yeshua appeared to the Eleven as they were eating, and he reproached them for their lack of trust and their spiritual insensitivity in not having believed those who had seen him after he had risen. ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, ¹⁸ not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison, and heal the sick by laying hands on them.”

¹⁹ So then, after he had spoken to them, the Lord Yeshua was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.^{[b] 20} And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the message by the accompanying signs.