Further Instructions

Colossians 04:2) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3) At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5) Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

David Spares Saul’s Life

1 Samuel 24:1) When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 2) Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3) And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4) And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ " Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5) And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6) He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed." 7) So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8) Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9) And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10) Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11) See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12) May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13) As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14) After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15) May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
16) As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17) He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18) And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19) For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20) And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21) Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house." 22) And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

David and Abigail

1 Samuel 25:0)1Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.
Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2) And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3) Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. 4) David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5) So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. 6) And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7) I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. 8) Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’ "
9) When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. 10) And Nabal answered David’s servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. 11) Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" 12) So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13) And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
14) But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15) Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16) They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17) Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him."
18) Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19) And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20) And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. 21) Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. 22) God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."
23) When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24) She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25) Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26) Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27) And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28) Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29) If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30) And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31) my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant."
32) And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33) Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! 34) For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." 35) Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition."
36) And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 37) In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38) And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
39) When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40) When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife." 41) And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42) And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.
43) David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. 44) Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

Matthew 16:1) And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2) He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3) And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4) An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Matthew 16:5) When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6) Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7) And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." 8) But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9) Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10) Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11) How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2) And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3) And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4) And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5) He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6) When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7) But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8) And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9) And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." 10) And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" 11) He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12) But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands." 13) Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

Matthew 17:14) And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15) said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16) And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." 17) And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18) And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19) Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20) He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

Matthew 17:22) As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23) and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

The Temple Tax

Matthew 17:24) When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" 25) He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 26) And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27) However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."

David Spares Saul Again

1 Samuel 26:1) Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?" 2) So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3) And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4) David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 5) Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
6) Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah,"Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7) So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8) Then Abishai said to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9) But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?" 10) And David said, "As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11) The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12) So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
13) Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14) And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?" 15) And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16) This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."
17) Saul recognized David’s voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18) And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19) Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20) Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21) Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22) And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23) The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24) Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25) Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

David Flees to the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1) Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2) So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3) And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4) And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
5) Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6) So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7) And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.
8) Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9) And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10) When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11) And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’ ” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12) And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

1 Samuel 28:1) In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army." 2) David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
3) Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4) The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5) When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6) And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7) Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."
8) So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." 9) The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?" 10) But Saul swore to her by the Lord, "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." 11) Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." 13) The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." 14) He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15) Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." 16) And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17) The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18) Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19) Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
20) Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21) And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22) Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." 23 He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24) Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25) and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

The Philistines Reject David

1 Samuel 29:1) Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2) As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3) the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." 4) But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands’?"

6) Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7) So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." 8) And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9) And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10) Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." 11) So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Qualifications for Overseers/Deacons

Qualifications for Overseers
1 Timothy 3:1) The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2) Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3) not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4) He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5) for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7) Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Qualifications for Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8) Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9) They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10) And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11) Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12) Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13) For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

David’s Wives Are Captured

1 Samuel 30:1) Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2) and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3) And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4) Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5) David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6) And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
7) And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8) And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." 9) So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10) But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.
11) They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12) and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13) And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14) We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15) And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band."

David Defeats the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:16) And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17) And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18) David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19) Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20) David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, "This is David’s spoil."
21) Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22) Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart." 23) But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24) Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike." 25) And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.
26) When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord." 27) It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28) in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29) in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30) in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31) in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

The Death of Saul

1 Samuel 31:1) Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2) And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3) The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4) Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5) And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6) Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7) And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.
8) The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9) So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10) They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11) But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12) all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13) And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Luke 9:1) And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2) and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3) And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4) And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5) And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6) And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

Luke 9:7) Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8) by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9) Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11) When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12) Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place." 13) But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people."14) For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15) And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16) And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17) And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Luke 9:18) Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19) And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen." 20) Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Jesus Foretells His Death

Luke 9:21) And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22) saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

Concern for the Corinthian Church

2 Corinthians 12:11) I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12) The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13) For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! 14) Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15) I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16) But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17) Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18) I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19) Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20) For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21) I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

David’s Song of Deliverance

2 Samuel 22:1) And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2) He said,

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

3) my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge,

my savior; you save me from violence.

4) I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.

5) "For the waves of death encompassed me,

the torrents of destruction assailed me;

6) the cords of Sheol entangled me;

the snares of death confronted me.

7) "In my distress I called upon the Lord;

to my God I called.

From his temple he heard my voice,

and my cry came to his ears.

8) "Then the earth reeled and rocked;

the foundations of the heavens trembled

and quaked, because he was angry.

9) Smoke went up from his nostrils,

and devouring fire from his mouth;

glowing coals flamed forth from him.

10) He bowed the heavens and came down;

thick darkness was under his feet.

11) He rode on a cherub and flew;

he was seen on the wings of the wind.

12) He made darkness around him his canopy,

thick clouds, a gathering of water.

13) Out of the brightness before him

coals of fire flamed forth.

14) The Lord thundered from heaven,

and the Most High uttered his voice.

15) And he sent out arrows and scattered them;

lightning, and routed them.

16) Then the channels of the sea were seen;

the foundations of the world were laid bare,

at the rebuke of the Lord,

at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17) "He sent from on high, he took me;

he drew me out of many waters.

18) He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hated me,

for they were too mighty for me.

19) They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the Lord was my support.

20) He brought me out into a broad place;

he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

21) "The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

22) For I have kept the ways of the Lord

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23) For all his rules were before me,

and from his statutes I did not turn aside.

24) I was blameless before him,

and I kept myself from guilt.

25) And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to my cleanness in his sight.

26) "With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

27) with the purified you deal purely,

and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

28) You save a humble people,

but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

29) For you are my lamp, O Lord,

and my God lightens my darkness.

30) For by you I can run against a troop,

and by my God I can leap over a wall.

31) This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

32) "For who is God, but the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

33) This God is my strong refuge

and has made my way blameless.

34) He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights.

35) He trains my hands for war,

so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36) You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your gentleness made me great.

37) You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

and my feet did not slip;

38) I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,

and did not turn back until they were consumed.

39) I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;

they fell under my feet.

40) For you equipped me with strength for the battle;

you made those who rise against me sink under me.

41) You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

those who hated me, and I destroyed them.

42) They looked, but there was none to save;

they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

43) I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;

I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.

44) "You delivered me from strife with my people;

you kept me as the head of the nations;

people whom I had not known served me.

45) Foreigners came cringing to me;

as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

46) Foreigners lost heart

and came trembling out of their fortresses.

47) "The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,

and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,

48) the God who gave me vengeance

and brought down peoples under me,

49) who brought me out from my enemies;

you exalted me above those who rose against me;

you delivered me from men of violence.

50) "For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,

and sing praises to your name.

51) Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

to David and his offspring forever."

All Is Vanity

Ecclesiates 1:1) The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2) Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

3) What does man gain by all the toil

at which he toils under the sun?

4) A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

5) The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens to the place where it rises.

6) The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

7) All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8) All things are full of weariness;

a man cannot utter it;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear filled with hearing.

9) What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

10) Is there a thing of which it is said,

"See, this is new"?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11) There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.

The Vanity of Wisdom

Ecclesiates 1:12) I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13) And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14) I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

15) What is crooked cannot be made straight,

and what is lacking cannot be counted.

16) I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing
all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17) And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

18) For in much wisdom is much vexation,

and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Mark 13:1) And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" 2) And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

Signs of the Close of the Age

Mark 13:3) And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4) "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" 5) And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray. 6) Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7) And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9) "But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10) And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11) And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12) And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13) And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

Mark 13:14) "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15) Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16) and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17) And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18) Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19) For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21) And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23) But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13:24) "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25) and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26) And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27) And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Mark 13:28) "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29) So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30) Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

Mark 13:32) "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33) Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34) It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35) Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36) lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37) And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

The Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:1) But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2) And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3) So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4) When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5) But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."
6) The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7) And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8) And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9) and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10) Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11) But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12) And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13) After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 14) Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15) And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

16) " ‘After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will restore it,

17) that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

says the Lord, who makes these things 18) known from of old.’

19) Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20) but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21) For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

Acts 15:22) Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23) with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24) Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25) it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
30) So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31) And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32) And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33) And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35) But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

Acts 15:36) And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." 37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38) But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39) And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40) but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41) And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Acts 16:1) Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2) He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3) Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4) As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5) So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

The Macedonian Call

Acts 16:6) And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7) And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8) So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10) And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Conversion of Lydia

Acts 16:11) So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12) and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13) And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14) One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15) And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

Acts 16:16) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17) She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18) And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
19) But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20) And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21) They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice." 22) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23) And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

Acts 16:25) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27) When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29) And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30) Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34) Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35) But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." 36) And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace." 37) But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." 38) The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39) So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40) So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Acts 17:1) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2) And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3) explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." 4) And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5) But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6) And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7) and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8) And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9) And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.