Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Song of Ascents

The Lord Lives in Zion

Josiah Succeeds Amon

22 Josiah was an eight year old child when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. ² He practiced what the Lord considered to be right, living the way his ancestor David had lived, turning neither to the right nor to the left.

³ Eighteen years after King Josiah had begun to reign, the king sent Azaliah’s son Shaphan, grandson of Meshullam the scribe, to the Lord’s Temple. He told him, ⁴ “Go to the high priest Hilkiah, so he can count the money that has been brought into the Lord’s Temple by the doorkeepers who have been gathering it from the people. ⁵ Have them deliver it to the workmen who are supervising the Lord’s Temple, so that they may pay it over to the workmen who serve in the Lord’s Temple to repair its damages, ⁶ including paying^[a] the carpenters, builders, and masons, as well as buying timber and pre-carved stone to repair the Temple. ⁷ But you won’t need to force them to be accountable for money already paid to them, since they’re faithful.”

Hilkiah Discovers an Ancient Archive

⁸ Later on, Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, “I’ve discovered the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he began to read it.

⁹ Shaphan the scribe reported to King Josiah, brought up the matter to him, and told him, “Your servants have distributed the money that was found in the Temple by giving it to the workmen who supervise the Lord’s Temple.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the scribe informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” Then Shaphan read from it in the king’s presence.

Stephen is Stoned to Death

⁵⁴ While they were listening to these things, they became more and more furious and began to grind their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen,^[a] filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ He said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷ But they shouted out loud, stopped listening, and together they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ ran him outside of the city, and began to stone him to death. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ As they continued to stone Stephen, he kept praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” After he had said this, he died.^[b]

The Church is Scattered

8 Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen^[c] to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.