Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

David and Goliath

17 The Philistines gathered their army together for war. They came to Sokoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes Dammim. It was between Sokoh and Azekah. ² Saul and the army of Israel gathered together. They camped in the Valley of Elah. They lined up their men to fight against the Philistines. ³ The Philistine army was camped on one hill. Israel’s army was on another. The valley was between them.

⁴ A mighty hero named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. He was from Gath. He was more than nine feet tall. ⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore bronze armor that weighed 125 pounds. ⁶ On his legs he wore bronze guards. He carried a bronze javelin on his back. ⁷ His spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. Its iron point weighed 15 pounds. The man who carried his shield walked along in front of him.

⁸ Goliath stood there and shouted to the soldiers of Israel. He said, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? I’m a Philistine. You are servants of Saul. Choose one of your men. Have him come down and face me. ⁹ If he’s able to fight and kill me, we’ll become your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will become our slaves and serve us.” ¹⁰ Goliath continued, “This day I dare the soldiers of Israel to send a man down to fight against me.” ¹¹ Saul and the whole army of Israel heard what the Philistine said. They were terrified.

¹² David was the son of an Ephrathite whose name was Jesse. Jesse was from Bethlehem in Judah and had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse was already very old. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The oldest son was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah. ¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three oldest sons followed Saul. ¹⁵ But David went back and forth from Saul’s camp to Bethlehem. He went to Bethlehem to take care of his father’s sheep.

¹⁶ Every morning and evening Goliath came forward and stood there. He did it for 40 days.

¹⁷ Jesse said to his son David, “Get at least half a bushel of grain that has been cooked. Also get ten loaves of bread. Take all of it to your brothers. Hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten chunks of cheese to the commander of their military group. Find out how your brothers are doing. Bring me back some word about them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel. They are in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines.”

²⁰ Early in the morning David left his father’s flock in the care of a shepherd. David loaded up the food and started out, just as Jesse had directed. David reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions. The soldiers were shouting the war cry. ²¹ The Israelites and the Philistines were lining up their armies for battle. The armies were facing each other. ²² David left what he had brought with the man who took care of the supplies. He ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. ²³ As David was talking with them, Goliath stepped forward from his line. Goliath was a mighty Philistine hero from Gath. He again dared someone to fight him, and David heard it.

The Apostles Heal Many People

¹² The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ No outsider dared to join them. But the people thought highly of them. ¹⁴ More and more men and women believed in the Lord. They joined the other believers. ¹⁵ So people brought those who were sick into the streets. They placed them on beds and mats. They hoped that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he walked by. ¹⁶ Crowds even gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick people. They also brought those who were suffering because of evil spirits. All of them were healed.