From Fear to Deliverance: Saul's First Victory

1. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2. Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.” 3. The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4. Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people, then all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5. Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6. God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot. 7. He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8. He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9. They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.” 11. On the next day, Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12. The people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, that we may put them to death!” 13. Saul said, “No man shall be put to death today; for today Yahweh has rescued Israel.” 14. Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.” 15. All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 1. Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 2. Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 3. Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” 4. They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.” 5. He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.” 6. Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7. Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8. “When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place. 9. “But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. 10. They cried to Yahweh, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11. Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. 12. “When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us;’ when Yahweh your God was your king. 13. Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for. Behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. 14. If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God. 15. But if you will not listen to Yahweh’s voice, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then Yahweh’s hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16. “Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 17. Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in Yahweh’s sight, in asking for a king.” 18. So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel. 19. All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.” 20. Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. 21. Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain. 22. For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself. 23. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24. Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. 25. But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.” 1. Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. 2. Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents. 3. Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4. All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. 5. The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven. 6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits. 7. Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8. He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9. Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” He offered the burnt offering. 10. It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11. Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash; 12. therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.” 13. Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever. 14. But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.” 15. Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16. Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17. The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18. another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19. Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears”; 20. but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle. 21. The price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads. 22. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23. The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

1. He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. 2. He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins. 3. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, 4. for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.” 5. As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6. “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.” 7. They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” 8. He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. 9. When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.” 10. Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13. It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15. for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16. You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18. And not a hair of your head will perish. 19. “By your endurance you will win your lives. 20. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25. There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26. men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28. But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” 29. He told them a parable. “See the fig tree, and all the trees. 30. When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. 31. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. 32. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. 33. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. 34. “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35. For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36. Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37. Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. 38. All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him. 1. Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2. The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. 3. Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. 4. He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 5. They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6. He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. 7. The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed. 8. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” 9. They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?” 10. He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 11. Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12. He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” 13. They went, found things as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14. When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 15. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16. for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.” 17. He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, 18. for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.” 19. He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 20. Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!” 23. They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. 24. There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 25. He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26. But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 27. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 29. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 30. that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” 31. The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat, 32. but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.” 33. He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 34. He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.” 35. He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36. Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37. For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me has an end.” 38. They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.” 39. He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40. When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.” 41. He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42. saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43. An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44. Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45. When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 46. and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 47. While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49. When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50. A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51. But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. 52. Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53. When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” 54. They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 55. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56. A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57. He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58. After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!” 59. After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!” 60. But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61. The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” 62. He went out, and wept bitterly. 63. The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him. 64. Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 65. They spoke many other things against him, insulting him. 66. As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people were gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67. “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68. and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69. From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70. They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say it, because I am.” 71. They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!” 1. The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.” 4. Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5. But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” 6. But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7. When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9. He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 10. The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11. Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 12. Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other. 13. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14. and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. 15. Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. 16. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 17. Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast. 18. But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— 19. one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. 20. Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, 21. but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22. He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 23. But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. 24. Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. 25. He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will. 26. When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus. 27. A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him. 28. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29. For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30. Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31. For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?” 32. There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. 33. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. 35. The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” 36. The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, 37. and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38. An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39. One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” 40. But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42. He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43. Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 44. It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 45. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47. When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 48. All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts. 49. All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50. Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man 51. (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom: 52. this man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 53. He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. 54. It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55. The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56. They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 1. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3. They entered in, and didn’t find the Lord Jesus’ body. 4. While they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. 5. Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6. He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee, 7. saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?” 8. They remembered his words, 9. returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. 10. Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles. 11. These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them. 12. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened. 13. Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14. They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. 15. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. 16. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?” 18. One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” 19. He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; 20. and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21. But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22. Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb; 23. and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24. Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” 25. He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26. Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27. Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28. They came near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further. 29. They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them. 30. When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them. 31. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. 32. They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” 33. They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, 34. saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35. They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 36. As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37. But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38. He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39. See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41. While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42. They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43. He took them, and ate in front of them. 44. He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” 45. Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46. He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47. and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48. You are witnesses of these things. 49. Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50. He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51. While he blessed them, he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven. 52. They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53. and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

1. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream. 2. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.” 3. Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad. 4. Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev. 5. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. 6. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.