Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Lord Extolled for His Goodness.

A Psalm of Praise, of David.

⁹ The ^(A)word of the Lord also came to me, saying, ¹⁰ “^(B)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

¹¹ Take silver and gold, make an ornate ^(C)crown and set it on the head of ^(D)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹² Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is ^[a](E)Branch, for He will ^[b](F)branch out from where He is; and He will ^(G)build the temple of the Lord. ¹³ Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will ^(H)bear the honor and sit and ^(I)rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a ^(J)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two ^[c]offices.”’ ¹⁴ Now the ^(K)crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and ^[d]Hen the son of Zephaniah. ^15 (L)Those who are far off will come and ^[e]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will ^(M)know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely ^(N)obey the Lord your God.

¹⁰ When ^(A)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹ since you can take note of the fact that no more than ^(B)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ^12 (C)Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or ^(D)causing ^[a]a riot. ^13 (E)Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I admit to you, that according to ^(F)the Way which they call a ^(G)sect I do serve ^[b](H)the God of our fathers, ^(I)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; ¹⁵ having a hope in God, which ^(J)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ In view of this, ^(K)I also ^[c]do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. ¹⁷ Now ^(L)after several years I ^(M)came to bring ^[d]alms to my nation and to present offerings; ¹⁸ in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been ^(N)purified, without any ^(O)crowd or uproar. But there were some ^(P)Jews from ^[e]Asia— ¹⁹ who ought to have been present before you and to ^(Q)make accusation, if they should have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before ^(R)the ^[f]Council, ²¹ other than for this one statement which ^(S)I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

²² But Felix, ^[g]having a more exact knowledge about ^(T)the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the ^[h]commander comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³ Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be ^(U)kept in custody and yet ^(V)have some freedom, and not to prevent any of ^(W)his friends from ministering to him.