Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song ^(A)for Alamoth.

²⁵ Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. ²⁶ And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” ^(A)And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. ²⁷ But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit ^(B)of Jacob their father revived. ²⁸ Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Jacob’s Journey to Egypt^(C)

46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to ^(D)Beersheba, and offered sacrifices ^(E)to the God of his father Isaac. ² Then God spoke to Israel ^(F)in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

³ So He said, “I am God, ^(G)the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will ^(H)make of you a great nation there. ^4 (I)I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely ^(J)bring you up again; and ^(K)Joseph ^[a]will put his hand on your eyes.”

⁵ Then ^(L)Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the ^[b]carts ^(M)which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶ So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, ^(N)Jacob and all his descendants with him. ⁷ His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were ^(A)furious^[a] and plotted to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named ^(B)Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them: “Men of Israel, ^[b]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, ^[c]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. ³⁸ And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ^39 (C)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found ^(D)to fight against God.”

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had ^(E)called for the apostles ^(F)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, ^(G)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ^[d]His name. ⁴² And daily ^(H)in the temple, and in every house, ^(I)they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.