Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 145

Praising God’s Greatness

A Davidic hymn.

Crowning of the Branch

⁹ The word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 10} “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. ¹¹ Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹² You are to tell him: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch;^(B) He will branch out from His place and build the Lord’s temple. ¹³ Yes, He will build the Lord’s temple; He will be clothed in splendor^(C) and will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.^{(D) 14} The crown will reside in the Lord’s temple as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen^[a] son of Zephaniah. ¹⁵ People who are far off will come and build the Lord’s temple, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen when you fully obey the Lord your God.”^(E)

Paul’s Defense before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.^{(A) 11} You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(B) 12} They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^{(C) 13} Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. ¹⁴ But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way,^(D) which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.^{(E) 15} And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection,^[a](F) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(G) 16} I always do my best to have a clear conscience^(H) toward God and men. ¹⁷ After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,^{(I) 18} and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.^{(J) 19} It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

The Verdict Postponed

²² Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way,^(K) he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered that the centurion keep Paul^[b] under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving^[c] him.^(L)