Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.

Cities of Judah Warned

26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, ² “Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand in the court of the Lord’s house [Jeremiah], and speak to all [the people of] the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word! ³ It may be that they will listen and everyone will turn from his wickedness, so that I may relent and reverse [My decision concerning] the disaster which I am planning to do to them because of their malevolent deeds.’ ⁴ And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, “If you will not listen to Me and obey My law which I have set before you, ⁵ and listen and follow [carefully] the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you repeatedly—though you have not listened— ⁶ then I will make this house [the temple] like ^[a]Shiloh, and I will make this city [subject to] the curse of all nations of the earth [because it will be so vile in their sight].”’”^(A)

A Plot to Murder Jeremiah

⁷ The priests and the [false] prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸ Now when Jeremiah finished proclaiming everything that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the [false] prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die! ⁹ Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh [after the ark of the Lord had been taken by our enemies] and this city [Jerusalem] will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered around Jeremiah in the [outer area of the] house of the Lord.

¹² Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. ¹³ Therefore, now change your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent and reverse His decision concerning the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. ¹⁴ As for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and suitable to you. ¹⁵ But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people. ⁹ However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, rose up and questioned and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were not able to successfully withstand and cope with the wisdom and the intelligence [and the power and inspiration] of the Spirit by whom he was speaking. ¹¹ Then [to attack him another way] they secretly instructed men to say, “We have heard this man [Stephen] speak blasphemous (slanderous, sacrilegious, abusive) words against Moses and against God.” ¹² And they provoked and incited the people, as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came up to Stephen and seized him and brought him before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). ¹³ They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law [of Moses]; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and will change the traditions and customs which Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ Then all those who were sitting in the Council, stared [intently] at him, and they saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel.

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.^{(A) 52} Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; ⁵³ you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”

Stephen Put to Death

⁵⁴ Now when ^[a]they heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth [in rage] at him. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and ^[b]the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷ But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him [considering him guilty of blasphemy]. ⁵⁸ Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named ^[c]Saul.^{(B) 59} They continued stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!” ⁶⁰ Then falling on his knees [in worship], he cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them [do not charge them]!” When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].