Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
God Watches Over His People
124 “If the Lord had not been on our side,” let Israel say, 2 “If the Lord had not been on our side when men came against us, 3 they would have eaten us up alive. Because their anger burned against us. 4 The waters would have covered us. The river would have passed over our soul. 5 The angry waters would have passed over our soul.”
6 Honor and thanks be to the Lord! He has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have become free like a bird out of a trap. The net is broken and now we are free. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
1 This is what happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 parts of the nation from India to Ethiopia. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus sat on the king’s throne in the city of Susa. 3 In the third year of his rule, he gave a special supper for all his princes and leaders. The army captains of Persia and Media, the important men and princes of the many parts of the country were there with him. 4 For 180 days he showed the great riches and honor and power that were his as king of the nation. 5 When all the days were over, the king gave a supper lasting seven days for all the people from the greatest to the least who were in the city of Susa where he ruled. The supper was given in the open space of the garden of the king’s special house. 6 There were curtains of fine white and blue linen held by ropes of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars. There were seats of gold and silver on a floor made of small glass-like pieces, marble, mother-of-pearl, and stones of much worth. 7 Drinks were served in different kinds of gold cups, and there was much wine, because the king was very able and willing to give it. 8 Drinking was done by the law. No one was made to drink. The king had told all the workmen of his house that they should give each person what he wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a special supper for the women in the beautiful house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day the heart of the king was happy with wine. And he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven servants who served King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti to the king with her crown. He wanted to show her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti would not come when the king sent his servants to bring her. So the king became very angry and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times. For it was the king’s way to speak with all who knew law and what was right and fair. 14 These men next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media. They were allowed to visit with the king and were next to the king in the nation. 15 He asked them, “By the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey what King Ahasuerus sent the servants to tell her?” 16 Then Memucan said in front of the king and the princes, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but to all the princes and all the people in the lands of King Ahasuerus. 17 For what the queen has done will become known to all the women, and will make them hate their husbands. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus told Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen has done will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes. And there will be much hate and anger. 19 If it pleases the king, let word be sent by him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be changed, that Vashti should not come again to King Ahasuerus. Let the king give the place of queen to another who is better than she. 20 Then the king’s word will be heard through all his great nation, and all women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.” 21 What was said pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan said.
Peter and John Are Free to Go but Are Told Not to Preach
13 They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus. 14 They were not able to argue about what Peter and John had said because the man who had been healed was standing with them.
15 The religious leaders told Peter and John to leave the court so the leaders could talk together. 16 They said, “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows a powerful work has been done by them. We cannot say that it did not happen. 17 Let us tell them with strong words that they must not speak again to anyone in this name. This will keep the news from going out among the people.”
18 Then they called them in and told them they must not speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John said, “If it is right to listen to you more than to God, you decide about that. 20 For we must tell what we have seen and heard.”
21 After they had spoken more sharp words to them, they let them go. They could not beat them because the people were giving thanks to God for what had happened. 22 The man on whom this powerful work of healing had been done was more than forty years old.
The Prayer of the Young Church
23 As soon as the missionaries were free to go, they went back to their own group. They told them everything the religious leaders had said. 24 When they heard it, they all prayed to God, saying, “Lord God, You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David, ‘Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? 26 The kings of the earth stood in a line ready to fight, and the leaders were all against the Lord and against His Christ.’ (A) 27 You know that Herod and Pilate and the Jews and the people who are not Jews gathered together here against Jesus. He was Your Holy Son and the One You had chosen 28 to do everything You planned and said would happen. 29 And now, Lord, listen to their sharp words. Make it easy for your servants to preach Your Word with power. 30 May You heal and do powerful works and special things to see through the name of Jesus, Your Holy Son!”
The Christians Are Filled with the Holy Spirit
31 When they had finished praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. It was easy for them to speak the Word of God.
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