Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 6^[a]

Evening Prayer for God’s Mercy

¹ For the director.^[b] With stringed instruments. “Upon the eighth.” A psalm of David.

¹⁹ He said to him, “Go in peace.” He left and traveled a little way. ²⁰ But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared Naaman the Aramean by not accepting from his hands what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”

²¹ So Gehazi followed Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got off the chariot to greet him and he said, “Is all well?” ²² He answered, “All is well. My master sent me, saying, ‘Two young men from among the sons of the prophets have now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ”

²³ Naaman said, “Please take two talents.” He urged it on him, and he bound up two talents of silver in two bags along with two changes of clothing. He entrusted it to two of his servants who carried it before him. ²⁴ When he came to the tower, he took it from their hands and he placed it in the house. He then dismissed the men and they left.

²⁵ He went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where are you coming from, Gehazi?” He answered, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.” ²⁶ He said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got off of his chariot to meet you? Is this now the time to receive money, or clothing, or olive orchards, or vineyards, or sheep, or oxen, or menservants, or maidservants? ²⁷ On account of this, Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever.” He went out from his presence, and he was a leper, as white as snow.

²⁸ When they heard this, they became enraged and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ The entire city was in an uproar, and the people all rushed to the theater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus,^[a] Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not permit him to do so. ³¹ Even some officials of the province of Asia who were friendly to him sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater.^[b]

³² Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and most of the people had no idea why they had all come together. ³³ Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. Then Alexander motioned for silence and tried to offer some type of defense. ³⁴ However, as soon as the crowd recognized him to be a Jew, all of them shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ Finally, the town clerk quieted the crowd and said, “Citizens of Ephesus, is there anyone who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple^[c] of the great Artemis and of her statue that descended from heaven? ³⁶ Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to remain calm and do nothing rash. ³⁷ These men whom you have brought here are not temple robbers, nor have they uttered any blasphemy against our goddess.

³⁸ “Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow artisans have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges there against one another. ³⁹ If there are further charges to present, let these be settled in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting today. There is no reason for it, and we will be unable to offer any justification for this commotion.” ⁴¹ When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.