Book of Common Prayer

The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

BOOK 4

God’s Eternity and Man’s Transitoriness.

A Prayer of ^[a]Moses, the man of God.

Thanks for the Lord’s Goodness to Israel.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

²² Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. ^23 (A)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem ^(B)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, ^24 (C)so that the violence ^[a]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and ^(D)their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. ²⁵ The men of Shechem set ^[b]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

⁵⁰ Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. ⁵¹ But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. ⁵² So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. ⁵³ But ^(A)a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. ⁵⁴ Then ^(B)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’” So ^[a]the young man pierced him through, and he died. ⁵⁵ When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his ^[b]home. ⁵⁶ Thus ^(C)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came ^[c]upon them.

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[a]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[b]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(A)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(B)with great power the apostles were giving ^(C)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(D)would sell them and bring the ^[c]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(E)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(F)distributed to each as any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(G)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(H)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[d](I)Encouragement), ³⁷ and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ^(J)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(K)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ^[e]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(L)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(M)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(N)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(O)keep back some of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[f]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[g]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^(P)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(Q)fell down and breathed his last; and ^(R)great fear came over all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(S)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^[h](T)for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, ^[i]that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(U)put ^(V)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(W)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(X)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

^13 (A)The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus ^(B)went up to Jerusalem. ^14 (C)And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. ¹⁵ And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; ¹⁶ and to those who were selling ^(D)the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making ^(E)My Father’s house a ^[a]place of business.” ¹⁷ His ^(F)disciples remembered that it was written, “^(G)Zeal for Your house will consume me.” ^18 (H)The Jews then said to Him, “^(I)What sign do You show us ^[b]as your authority for doing these things?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “^(J)Destroy this ^[c]temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ^20 (K)The Jews then said, “It took ^(L)forty-six years to build this ^[d]temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But He was speaking of ^(M)the ^[e]temple of His body. ²² So when He was raised from the dead, His ^(N)disciples ^(O)remembered that He said this; and they believed ^(P)the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at ^(Q)the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, ^(R)observing His signs which He was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for ^(S)He knew all men, ²⁵ and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, ^(T)for He Himself knew what was in man.