Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 99[a]
99 The Lord reigns!
The nations tremble.[b]
He sits enthroned above the cherubim;[c]
the earth shakes.[d]
2 The Lord is elevated[e] in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.
He[f] is holy!
4 The king is strong;
he loves justice.[g]
You ensure that legal decisions will be made fairly;[h]
you promote justice and equity in Jacob.
5 Praise[i] the Lord our God.
Worship[j] before his footstool.
He is holy!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests;
Samuel was one of those who prayed to him.[k]
They[l] prayed to the Lord and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from a pillar of cloud;[m]
they obeyed his regulations and the ordinance he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them.
They found you to be a forgiving God,
but also one who punished their sinful deeds.[n]
9 Praise[o] the Lord our God!
Worship on his holy hill,
for the Lord our God is holy.
18 Now[a] Samuel was ministering with the favor of the Lord.[b] The boy[c] was dressed in a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make him a small robe and bring it to him from time to time when she would go up with her husband to make the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, “May the Lord establish[d] descendants[e] for you from this woman in place of the one that she dedicated[f] to the Lord.” Then they[g] would go to their[h] home. 21 And indeed the Lord attended to[i] Hannah. She got pregnant and gave birth to[j] three sons and two daughters. But the boy[k] Samuel grew up before the Lord.[l]
The Jerusalem Council
15 Now some men came down from Judea[a] and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised[b] according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate[c] with them, the church[d] appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with[e] the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement.[f] 3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia[g] and Samaria, they were relating at length[h] the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy[i] to all the brothers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received[j] by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported[k] all the things God had done with them.[l] 5 But some from the religious party of the Pharisees[m] who had believed stood up and said, “It is necessary[n] to circumcise the Gentiles[o] and to order them to observe[p] the law of Moses.”
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided[a] to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas,[b] leaders among the brothers, to Antioch[c] with Paul and Barnabas. 23 They sent this letter with them:[d]
From the apostles[e] and elders, your brothers,[f] to the Gentile brothers and sisters[g] in Antioch,[h] Syria,[i] and Cilicia, greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused[j] you, upsetting[k] your minds[l] by what they said,[m] 25 we have unanimously[n] decided[o] to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who[p] have risked their lives[q] for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[r] 27 Therefore we are sending[s] Judas and Silas[t] who will tell you these things themselves in person.[u] 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us[v] not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules:[w] 29 that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols[x] and from blood and from what has been strangled[y] and from sexual immorality.[z] If you keep yourselves from doing these things,[aa] you will do well. Farewell.[ab]
30 So when they were dismissed,[ac] they went down to Antioch,[ad] and after gathering the entire group[ae] together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it aloud,[af] the people[ag] rejoiced at its encouragement.[ah] 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.[ai] 33 After[aj] they had spent some time there,[ak] they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.[al] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch,[am] teaching and proclaiming (along with many others)[an] the word of the Lord.[ao]
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