Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A prayer of David.

³ Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir. It was also called the country of Edom. ⁴ Jacob told the messengers what to do. He said, “Here’s what you must tell my master Esau. ‘Your servant Jacob says, “I’ve been staying with Laban. I’ve remained there until now. ⁵ I have cattle and donkeys and sheep and goats. I also have male and female servants. Now I’m sending this message to you. I hope I can please you.” ’ ”

⁶ The messengers came back to Jacob. They said, “We went to your brother Esau. He’s coming now to meet you. He has 400 men with him.”

⁷ Jacob was very worried and afraid. So he separated the people with him into two groups. He also separated the flocks and herds and camels. ⁸ He thought, “Esau might come and attack one group. If he does, the group that’s left can escape.”

⁹ Then Jacob prayed, “You are the God of my grandfather Abraham. You are the God of my father Isaac. Lord, you are the one who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives. Then I will give you success.’ ¹⁰ You have been very kind and faithful to me. But I’m not worthy of any of this. When I crossed this Jordan River, all I had was my walking stick. But now I’ve become two camps. ¹¹ Please save me from the hand of my brother Esau. I’m afraid he’ll come and attack me and the mothers with their children. ¹² But you have said, ‘I will surely give you success. I will make your children as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. People will not be able to count them.’ ”

¹³ Jacob spent the night there. He chose a gift for his brother Esau from what he had with him. ¹⁴ He chose 200 female goats and 20 male goats. He chose 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep. ¹⁵ He chose 30 female camels with their little ones. He chose 40 cows and ten bulls. And he chose 20 female donkeys and ten male donkeys. ¹⁶ He put each herd by itself. Then he put his servants in charge of them. He said to his servants, “Go on ahead of me. Keep some space between the herds.”

¹⁷ Jacob spoke to his servant who was leading the way. He said, “My brother Esau will meet you. He’ll ask, ‘Who is your master? Where are you going? And who owns all these animals in front of you?’ ¹⁸ Then say to Esau, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift to you from him. And Jacob is coming behind us.’ ”

¹⁹ He also spoke to the second and third servants. He told them and all the others who followed the herds what to do. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. ²⁰ Make sure you say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” Jacob was thinking, “I’ll make peace with him with these gifts I’m sending on ahead. When I see him later, maybe he’ll welcome me.” ²¹ So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him. But he himself spent the night in the camp.

³⁷ When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

³⁸ Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

⁴⁰ Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

The Believers Share Their Lives Together

⁴² The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared their lives together. They ate and prayed together. ⁴³ Everyone was amazed at what God was doing. They were amazed when the apostles performed many wonders and signs. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together. They shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold property and other things they owned. They gave to anyone who needed something. ⁴⁶ Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. They ate meals together in their homes. Their hearts were glad and sincere. ⁴⁷ They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.