); Wisdom 4:7-15 (The righteous are rewarded); Acts 7:59—8:8 (Stephen is stoned to death) (Tree of Life Version)
Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Praise Him, All Creation!
Psalm 148
1 Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise Him in the highest!
2 Praise Him all His angels!
Praise Him all His armies.
3 Praise Him, sun and moon!
Praise Him, all stars of light.
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
and waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the Name of Adonai,
for He commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place forever and ever.
He made a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise Adonai from the earth,
sea monsters and all depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and vapor,
storm wind doing His bidding,
9 mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 beasts and all cattle,
crawling things and winged birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of earth,
12 both young men and maidens,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the Name of Adonai,
for His Name alone is exalted.
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
a praise for all His kedoshim,[a]
for the children of Israel—
a people near to Him.
Halleluyah!
59 They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out, “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After he said this, he died.[a]
Saul Persecutes Messiah’s Community
8 Now Saul was in agreement with Stephen’s execution. On that day a great persecution arose against Messiah’s community in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the emissaries. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3 But Saul was destroying Messiah’s community, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he was throwing them into prison.
The Good News Spreads to Samaria
4 Now those who had been scattered went around proclaiming the Word. 5 Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds were paying close attention to what Philip was saying—as they both heard and saw the signs that he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits were coming out of many who were plagued, shrieking with a loud voice. Many paralyzed and crippled were healed also. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.