Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁷ The Law of the Lord is perfect, giving new strength to the soul. The Law He has made known is sure, making the child-like wise. ⁸ The Laws of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The Word of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The Lord is always true and right in how He judges. ¹⁰ The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. ¹¹ And by them Your servant is told to be careful. In obeying them there is great reward.

¹² Who can see his own mistakes? Forgive my sins that I do not see. ¹³ And keep Your servant from sinning by going my own way. Do not let these sins rule over me. Then I will be without blame. And I will not be found guilty of big sins. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me.

Men Who Judge

¹³ The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ When Moses’ father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” ¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will. ¹⁶ When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God.” ¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone. ¹⁹ Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. ²⁰ Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. ²² Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you. ²³ If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace.”

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. ²⁵ Moses chose able men out of all Israel. And he made them leaders over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. ²⁶ They judged the people at all times. They would bring the big troubles to Moses. But they would judge every small trouble themselves. ²⁷ Then Moses let his father-in-law return to his own land.

Peter and John Are Free to Go but Are Told Not to Preach

¹³ They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ They were not able to argue about what Peter and John had said because the man who had been healed was standing with them.

¹⁵ The religious leaders told Peter and John to leave the court so the leaders could talk together. ¹⁶ They said, “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows a powerful work has been done by them. We cannot say that it did not happen. ¹⁷ Let us tell them with strong words that they must not speak again to anyone in this name. This will keep the news from going out among the people.”

¹⁸ Then they called them in and told them they must not speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ Peter and John said, “If it is right to listen to you more than to God, you decide about that. ²⁰ For we must tell what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After they had spoken more sharp words to them, they let them go. They could not beat them because the people were giving thanks to God for what had happened. ²² The man on whom this powerful work of healing had been done was more than forty years old.

The Prayer of the Young Church

²³ As soon as the missionaries were free to go, they went back to their own group. They told them everything the religious leaders had said. ²⁴ When they heard it, they all prayed to God, saying, “Lord God, You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them. ²⁵ You said through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David, ‘Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood in a line ready to fight, and the leaders were all against the Lord and against His Christ.’ ^{(A) 27} You know that Herod and Pilate and the Jews and the people who are not Jews gathered together here against Jesus. He was Your Holy Son and the One You had chosen ²⁸ to do everything You planned and said would happen. ²⁹ And now, Lord, listen to their sharp words. Make it easy for your servants to preach Your Word with power. ³⁰ May You heal and do powerful works and special things to see through the name of Jesus, Your Holy Son!”

The Christians Are Filled with the Holy Spirit

³¹ When they had finished praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. It was easy for them to speak the Word of God.