Bible Reading Plan

¹ In those days the Philistines gathered^(a) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army."

² David said, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do."

Achish replied, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard^(b) for life."

Saul and the Medium at Endor

³ Now Samuel was dead,^(c) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.^(d) Saul had expelled^(e) the mediums and spiritists^(f) from the land.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,^(g) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.^{(h) 5} When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror⁽ⁱ⁾ filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired^(j) of the Lord , but the Lord did not answer him by dreams^(k) or Urim^(l) or prophets.^{(m) 7} Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium,⁽ⁿ⁾ so I may go and inquire of her."

"There is one in Endor,^(o)" they said.

⁸ So Saul disguised^(p) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult^(q) a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."

⁹ But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off^(r) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap^(s) for my life to bring about my death?"

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by the Lord , "As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this."

¹¹ Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"

"Bring up Samuel," he said.

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me?^(t) You are Saul!"

¹³ The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?"

The woman said, "I see a ghostly figure^[a] coming up out of the earth."^(u)

¹⁴ "What does he look like?" he asked.

"An old man wearing a robe^(v) is coming up," she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"

"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed^(w) from me. He no longer answers^(x) me, either by prophets or by dreams.^(y) So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

¹⁶ Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn^(z) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey^(aa) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath^(ab) against the Amalekites,^(ac) the Lord has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons^(ad) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines."

²⁰ Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

²¹ When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, "Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life^(ae) in my hands and did what you told me to do. ²² Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way."

²³ He refused^(af) and said, "I will not eat."

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf^(ag) at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. ²⁵ Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

Chapter 23

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(r) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(s) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(t) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(u) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'^{(v) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"^(x)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(y) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, "Father,^(z) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."^[c](aa) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(ab)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(ac) They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One."^(ad)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(ae) They offered him wine vinegar^{(af) 37} and said, "If you are the king of the Jews,^(ag) save yourself."

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews .^(ah)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"^(ai)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."^(aj)

⁴² Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]"^(ak)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."^(al)

The Death of Jesus^(am)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,^{(an) 45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple^(ao) was torn in two.^{(ap) 46} Jesus called out with a loud voice,^(aq) "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."^[e](ar) When he had said this, he breathed his last.^(as)

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God^(at) and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts^(au) and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,^(av) stood at a distance,^(aw) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus^(ax)

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.^{(ay) 52} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day,^(az) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee^(ba) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.^(bb) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.^(bc)