Counting Israel and Breaking Down Barriers

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2. “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one; 3. from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall count them by their divisions. 4. With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers’ house. 5. These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6. Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7. Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8. Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar. 9. Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon. 10. Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11. Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12. Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13. Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran. 14. Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15. Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.” 16. These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel. 17. Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name. 18. They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their ancestry by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, one by one. 19. As Yahweh commanded Moses, so he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20. The children of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 21. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred. 22. Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those who were counted of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 23. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 24. Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 25. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 26. Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 27. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Judah, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. 28. Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 29. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. 30. Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 31. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 32. Of the children of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 33. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred. 34. Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 35. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. 36. Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 37. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 38. Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 39. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 40. Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 41. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred. 42. Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; 43. those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred. 44. These are those who were counted, whom Moses and Aaron counted, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers’ house. 45. So all those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war in Israel; 46. even all those who were counted were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 47. But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not counted among them. 48. For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 49. “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not count, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50. but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle, and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it. 51. When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 52. The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions. 53. But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” 54. Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they did. 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2. “The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses: at a distance from the Tent of Meeting shall they encamp around it.” 3. Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 4. His division, and those who were counted of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. 5. Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar. 6. His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. 7. The tribe of Zebulun: and the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon. 8. His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 9. All who were counted of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first. 10. “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11. His division, and those who were counted of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred. 12. “Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13. His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14. “The tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15. His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 16. “All who were counted of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second. 17. “Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards. 18. “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19. His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty thousand five hundred. 20. “Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21. His division, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. 22. “The tribe of Benjamin: and the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23. His army, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 24. “All who were counted of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third. 25. “On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26. His division, and those who were counted of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 27. “Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran. 28. His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-one thousand and five hundred. 29. “The tribe of Naphtali: and the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30. His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31. “All who were counted of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards.” 32. These are those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were counted of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 33. But the Levites were not counted among the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses. 34. Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers’ houses. 1. Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4. Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father. 5. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 6. “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7. They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8. They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9. You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel. 10. You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.” 11. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 12. “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine: 13. for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh.” 14. Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15. “Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward.” 16. Moses counted them according to Yahweh’s word, as he was commanded. 17. These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18. These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19. The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20. The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 21. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22. Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred. 23. The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward. 24. The prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25. The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, 26. and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service. 27. Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 28. According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary. 29. The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30. The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31. Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service. 32. Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary. 33. Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34. Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred. 35. The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36. The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service, 37. the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords. 38. Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 39. All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand. 40. Yahweh said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41. You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.” 42. Moses counted, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 43. All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three. 44. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45. “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh. 46. For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites, 47. you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs): 48. and you shall give the money, with which their remainder is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.” 49. Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites; 50. from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51. and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to Yahweh’s word, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

1. Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2. a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3. At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4. He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5. Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6. He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside. 7. When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8. Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9. Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12. in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14. But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15. A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16. This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. 17. Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18. and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21. Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” 22. They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23. So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24. On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27. As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28. He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29. Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” 30. Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31. and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33. Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.” 34. Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35. but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37. you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38. even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. 40. God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41. not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43. All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.” 44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47. “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” 48. He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days. 1. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” 4. But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9. But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10. This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14. who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17. If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” 19. They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22. The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23. who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27. Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30. which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 1. Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” 9. And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11. When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12. Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16. But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 17. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place. 18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19. When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. 20. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

1. Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. 3. Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4. Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. 5. Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on. 6. Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them. 7. For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. 8. Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. 9. My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation. 10. All my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?” 11. Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about. 12. They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul. 13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. 14. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother. 15. But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease. 16. Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me. 17. Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. 18. I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people. 19. Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes. 20. For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. 21. Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!” 22. You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me. 23. Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me! 24. Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me. 25. Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” 26. Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. 27. Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!” 28. My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.