Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 27^[a]

Trust in God, Our Light and Salvation

¹ Of David.

²⁷ As they were coming to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell your servant to go on ahead of us,” and he went on ahead. He continued, “You stay here for a while, so that I can reveal the word of God to you.”

Chapter 10

Saul Is Anointed. ¹ Samuel took a flask of oil, and he poured it upon his head. He kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you as leader over his inheritance?^{[a] 2} When you leave me today, you will encounter two men near the Tomb of Rachel on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you were looking for have been found. Your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and has begun to worry about you saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’

³ “From there you are to continue on until you arrive at the Terebinth of Tabor. Three men who are on their way to God in Bethel will meet you there. One will be bringing three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and the third a bottle of wine. ⁴ They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread. Take them from them.

Signs and Prophecies. ⁵ “After that go to Gibeath-elohim where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high places with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps being played before them. They will be prophesying.^{[b] 6} The Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them, for you will be changed into another person. ⁷ Once these signs occur, do whatever comes to hand, for God is with you. ⁸ Precede me to Gilgal, and I will come down to be with you and to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You are to wait for seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

Chapter 2

The Council of Jerusalem^[a]

Confirmation of Paul’s Gospel and Mission. ¹ Fourteen years later, I traveled up to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas, and I also took along Titus. ² I went up in response to a revelation, and I set before them the gospel that I preach to the Gentiles—in a private meeting with the leaders—to ensure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.

³ Yet not even Titus, who was accompanying me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. ⁴ Yet some false brethren were secretly brought in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might reduce us to slavery. ⁵ But not for a single moment did we submit to them, in order that the truth of the gospel might remain untouched for you.

⁶ As for those who were regarded as men of importance—whether or not they actually were important makes no difference to me, nor does it matter to God—these men did not add anything further to my message. ⁷ On the contrary, they realized that I had been entrusted with preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with preaching the gospel to the circumcised ( ⁸ for the one who worked through Peter in his mission to the Jews was also at work in me in my mission to the Gentiles).

⁹ Therefore, when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged as pillars of the community, recognized the grace that had been bestowed upon me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles while they concentrated on the Jews. ¹⁰ They asked only one thing: that we remember the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do.