Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
God Is with Us
46 God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble. 2 So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the center of the sea, 3 and even if its waters go wild with storm and the mountains shake with its action.
4 There is a river whose waters make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High lives. 5 God is in the center of her. She will not be moved. God will help her when the morning comes. 6 The people made noise. The nations fell. He raised His voice and the earth melted. 7 The Lord of All is with us. The God of Jacob is our strong place.
8 Come and see the works of the Lord. He has destroyed parts of the earth. 9 He stops wars to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the war-wagons with fire. 10 Be quiet and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth. 11 The Lord of All is with us. The God of Jacob is our strong place.
25 So they went out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is ruler of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob’s heart almost stopped, because he did not believe them. 27 So they told him all the things that Joseph had said to them. And when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the life of Jacob’s spirit returned. 28 Israel said, “It is enough. My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Jacob and His Family Go to Egypt
46 So Israel traveled with all he had to Beersheba. There he gave gifts to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in special dreams in the night, saying, “Jacob, Jacob.” And Jacob answered, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. For I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go with you to Egypt. I will bring you out again. And Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.”
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their animals and all the things they owned from the land of Canaan. And they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his children with him, 7 his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters. He brought all his children with him to Egypt.
Gamaliel Speaks in Court
33 The religious leaders became angry when they heard this. They planned to kill the missionaries. 34 Gamaliel was a man of the religious leaders’ court. He was a proud religious law-keeper and a teacher of the Law. He was respected by all the people. He stood up and said that the missionaries should be sent outside for a short time.
35 Then Gamaliel said to the court, “Jewish men, be careful what you plan to do with these men. 36 Remember that many years ago a man called Theudas made himself out to be someone great. He had about 400 followers. He was killed. His followers were divided and nothing came of his teaching. 37 After him, Judas of the country of Galilee gathered many followers. It was the time for every person to have his name written in the books of the nation. This Judas was killed also. All his followers were divided and went away. 38 I say to you now, stay away from these men and leave them alone. If this teaching and work is from men, it will come to nothing. 39 If it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 The court agreed with Gamaliel. So they called the missionaries in and beat them. They told them they must not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they were sent away.
41 So the missionaries went away from the court happy that they could suffer shame because of His Name. 42 Every day in the house of God and in the homes, they kept teaching and preaching about Jesus Christ.
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