Book of Common Prayer

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. A wedding song to the tune of “Lilies.”

For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

²³ Omri became king of Israel. It was in the 31st year that Asa was king of Judah. Omri ruled for 12 years. He ruled in Tirzah for six of those years. ²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer. He weighed out 150 pounds of silver for it. Then he built a city on the hill. He called it Samaria. He named it after Shemer. Shemer had owned the hill before him.

²⁵ But Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He sinned more than all the kings who had ruled before him. ²⁶ He lived the way Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had lived. He committed the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Israel made the Lord very angry. They did it by worshiping worthless statues of gods. The Lord is the God of Israel.

²⁷ The other events of Omri’s rule are written down. Everything he did and the things he accomplished are written in the official records of the kings of Israel. ²⁸ Omri joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in Samaria. Omri’s son Ahab became the next king after him.

Ahab King of Israel

²⁹ Ahab became king of Israel. It was in the 38th year that Asa was king of Judah. Ahab ruled over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. He was the son of Omri. ³⁰ Ahab, the son of Omri, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did more evil things than any of the kings who had ruled before him. ³¹ He thought it was only a small thing to commit the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Ahab also married Jezebel. She was Ethbaal’s daughter. Ethbaal was king of the people of Sidon. Ahab began to serve the god named Baal and worship him. ³² He set up an altar to honor Baal. He set it up in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made a pole used to worship the female god named Asherah. He made the Lord very angry. Ahab did more to make him angry than all the kings of Israel had done before him. The Lord is the God of Israel.

³⁴ In Ahab’s time, Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son Abiram. When he set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son Segub. That’s what the Lord had said would happen. He had spoken it through Joshua, the son of Nun.

Paul Spreads the Good News While in Prison

¹² Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news. ¹³ One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because I am a witness for Christ. All the palace guards and everyone else know it. ¹⁴ And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord. They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.

¹⁵ It’s true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work. ¹⁶ The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to be a witness for the good news. ¹⁷ But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for right or wrong reasons, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad.

And I will continue to be glad. ¹⁹ I know that you are praying for me. I also know that God will give me the Spirit of Jesus Christ to help me. So no matter what happens, I’m sure I will still be set free. ²⁰ I completely expect and hope that I won’t be ashamed in any way. I’m sure I will be brave enough. Now as always Christ will receive glory because of what happens to me. He will receive glory whether I live or die. ²¹ For me, life finds all its meaning in Christ. Death also has its benefits. ²² Suppose I go on living in my body. Then I will be able to carry on my work. It will bear a lot of fruit. But what should I choose? I don’t know! ²³ I can’t decide between the two. I long to leave this world and be with Christ. That is better by far. ²⁴ But it is more important for you that I stay alive. ²⁵ I’m sure of this. So I know I will remain with you. And I will continue with all of you to help you grow in your faith. I will also continue to help you be joyful in what you have been taught. ²⁶ I’m sure I will be with you again. Then you will be able to boast in Christ Jesus even more because of me.

Living to Honor the Good News

²⁷ No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then I will know that you remain strong together in the one Spirit. I will know this if I come and see you or only hear about you. I will know that you work together as one person. I will know that you work to spread the teachings about the good news. ²⁸ So don’t be afraid in any way of those who oppose you. This will show them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. That’s what God will do. ²⁹ Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him. ³⁰ You are going through the same struggle you saw me go through. As you have heard, I am still struggling.

Jesus Rises From the Dead

16 The Sabbath day ended. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They were going to use them for Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, they were on their way to the tomb. It was just after sunrise. ³ They asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?”

⁴ Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. The stone was very large. ⁵ They entered the tomb. As they did, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were alarmed.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him. ⁷ Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.’ ”

⁸ The women were shaking and confused. They went out and ran away from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

⁹ Jesus rose from the dead early on the first day of the week. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. He had driven seven demons out of her. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him. She found them crying. They were very sad. ¹¹ They heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him. But they did not believe it.

¹² After that, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them. This happened while they were walking out in the country. ¹³ The two returned and told the others about it. But the others did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples as they were eating. He spoke firmly to them because they had no faith. They would not believe those who had seen him after he rose from the dead.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone. ¹⁶ Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who does not believe will be punished. ¹⁷ Here are the miraculous signs that those who believe will do. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in languages they had not known before. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes with their hands. And when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all. They will place their hands on sick people. And the people will get well.”

¹⁹ When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. And he backed up his word by the signs that went with it.