Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Let Everything Praise Yahweh

¹⁹ Now Saul and they^[a] and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting the Philistines.

²⁰ David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and he took the provisions and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment while the troops were going to the battle line, and they raised the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle lines, one battle line against the other.^{[b] 22} David left the baggage he had with him in the care^[c] of the baggage keeper, ran to the battle line, and came and asked how his brothers were doing.^{[d] 23} While he was speaking to them, the champion,^[e] whose name was Goliath the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the caves^[f] of the Philistines. He spoke just as he had previously,^[g] and David heard his words. ²⁴ When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from his presence and were very afraid. ²⁵ And the men of Israel said, “Did you see this man who has come up? For he is going up to defy Israel! It will be that the man who defeats him, the king will make him^[h] very rich with great wealth and will give him his daughter in marriage and will make his father’s house free in Israel.”^{[i] 26} Now David had spoken to the men who were standing with him, saying, “What will be done for the man who defeats this Philistine and removes the disgrace from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he defies the battle lines of the living God?” ²⁷ And the troops had spoken to him according to this word, saying, “So it will be done for the man who defeats^[j] him.”

²⁸ His oldest brother Eliab heard while he was speaking to the men, and Eliab became very angry against David^[k] and said, “Why have you come down today, and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumptuousness and the evil of your heart! For you have come down in order to see the battle!” ²⁹ David replied, “What have I done now? I merely asked a question!^{[l] 30} He turned around from him to another opposite him and he spoke to him in the same way,^[m] and the people^[n] answered him as before.^[o]

David Appears before Saul

³¹ Now the words which David had spoken were heard and they reported them to^[p] Saul, and he summoned him. ³² David said to Saul, “Do not let anyone’s heart fail concerning him! Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

The Apostles Arrested and Imprisoned

¹⁷ Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and^[a] they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and^[b] said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple courts^[c] and^[d] proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” ²¹ And when they^[e] heard this,^[f] they entered at daybreak into the temple courts^[g] and began teaching.^[h]

Now when^[i] the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel—and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But the officers who came^[j] did not find them in the prison, and they returned and^[k] reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we^[l] opened them,^[m] we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, as to what this might be. ²⁵ But someone came and^[n] reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts^[o] and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and^[p] brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned by them).^[q]