Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer for the Lord’s Blessing Upon the Sanctuary.

A Song of ^[a]Ascents.

Josiah Succeeds Amon

22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. ² He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father (ancestor) David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

³ In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe to the house of the Lord, saying, ⁴ “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count the entire amount of money brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.^{(A) 5} And have them deliver it to the hands of the workmen who have been appointed over the house of the Lord, and have them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the Lord to repair the damages of the house— ⁶ that is, [have them give the money] to the carpenters and the builders and the masons—and to buy timber and cut stones to repair the house (temple). ⁷ However, no accounting shall be required of them for the money placed in their hands, because they act faithfully.”

The Lost Book

⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house (temple) of the Lord.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. ⁹ Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to him: “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have placed it in the hands of the workmen who have been appointed over the house of the Lord.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it [aloud] before the king.

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.^{(A) 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].

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death.

And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.