Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Confidence in God’s Protection.

For the music director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

Gehazi’s Greed

¹⁵ Then he returned to the man of God ^[a]with all his company, and came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold now, ^(A)I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; so please ^(B)accept a ^[b]gift from your servant now.” ¹⁶ But he said, “^(C)As surely as the Lord lives, before whom I stand, ^(D)I will accept nothing.” And he urged him to accept it, but he refused. ¹⁷ Then Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant be given two mules’ load of ^(E)earth; for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering nor a sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. ¹⁸ Regarding this matter may the Lord forgive your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and ^(F)he leans on my hand and I bow down in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord please forgive your servant in this matter.” ¹⁹ He said to him, “^(G)Go in peace.” So he went some distance from him.

²⁴ While ^[a]Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! ^[b]Your great ^(A)learning is ^[c]driving you insane.” ²⁵ But Paul *said, “I am not insane, ^(B)most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with ^[d]truthful and rational words. ²⁶ For the king ^[e](C)knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a ^[f]corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ Agrippa replied to Paul, “^[g]In a short time you are going to persuade me to ^[h]make a ^(D)Christian of myself.” ²⁹ And Paul said, “I would ^[i]wish to God that even ^[j]in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these ^(E)chains.”