1 Samuel 14
Jonathan’s Victory
Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of aGibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in bMigron. And the people who were with him were cabout six hundred men, 3 and Ahijah, the ason of Ahitub, bIchabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at cShiloh, dwas wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 aBetween the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of athese uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for bthe Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “aBehold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands; and athis shall be the sign to us.” 11 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, aHebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and awe will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for bthe Lord has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and athe raiders trembled, and bthe earth quaked so cthat it became a great trembling.
16 Now Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “aBring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 19 aWhile Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, aevery man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even athey also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the amen of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. 23 So athe Lord delivered Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond bBeth-aven.
Saul’s Foolish Order
24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had aput the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people entered the forest, behold, athere was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, ahe put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and bhis eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29 Then Jonathan said, “aMy father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”
31 They struck among the Philistines that day from aMichmash to bAijalon. And the people were very weary. 32 aThe people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them bwith the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are asinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34 Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there. 35 And aSaul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” So athe priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 Saul ainquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But bHe did not answer him on that day. 38 Saul said, “aDraw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. 39 For aas the Lord lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore, Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “aGive a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “aTell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “bI indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44 Saul said, “aMay God do this to me and more also, for byou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, anot one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for bhe has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Constant Warfare
47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, athe sons of Ammon, Edom, bthe kings of Zobah, and cthe Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. 48 He acted valiantly and adefeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49 Now athe sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn bMerab and the name of the younger cMichal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And athe name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 aKish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he aattached him to his staff.
Acts 10
Cornelius’s Vision
Now there was a man at aCaesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was bcalled the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and aone who feared God with all his household, and bgave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About athe ninth hour of the day he clearly saw bin a vision can angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And afixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms bhave ascended cas a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to aJoppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named aSimon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to aJoppa.
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, aPeter went up on bthe housetop about cthe sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he afell into a trance; 11 and he *saw athe sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, aLord, for bI have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “aWhat God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what athe vision which he had seen might be, behold, bthe men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on athe vision, bthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and aaccompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and aGod-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, bwas divinely directed by a choly angel to send for you to come to his house and hear da message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
Peter at Caesarea
And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and asome of bthe brethren from cJoppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered aCaesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and aworshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “aStand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found amany people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how aunlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet bGod has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”
30 Cornelius said, “aFour days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during bthe ninth hour; and behold, ca man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to aJoppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Gentiles Hear Good News
34 aOpening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that bGod is not one to show partiality, 35 but ain every nation the man who bfears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, apreaching bpeace through Jesus Christ (He is cLord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 You know of aJesus of Nazareth, how God banointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, cand how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for dGod was with Him. 39 We are awitnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also bput Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 aGod raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 anot to all the people, but to bwitnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us cwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He aordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to btestify that this is the One who has been cappointed by God as dJudge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him aall the prophets bear witness that through bHis name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, athe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 aAll the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bpoured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them aspeaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “aSurely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who bhave received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he aordered them to be baptized bin the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
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