Acts 26:19-32; 1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalms 49

Acts 26:19-32

19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.

21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me.

22 Since I have obtained help that comes from God, to this day I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place-

23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."

24 As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!"

25 But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment.

26 For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I'm not convinced that any of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner!

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe."

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?"

29 "I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am-except for these chains."

30 So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up,

31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains."

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

1 Samuel 1

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

3 This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord's priests.

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.

5 But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving.

6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.

7 Whenever she went up to the Lord's house, her rival taunted her in this way every year. Hannah wept and would not eat.

8 "Hannah, why are you crying?" her husband Elkanah asked. "Why won't you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?"

9 Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord's tabernacle.

10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.

11 Making a vow, she pleaded, "Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant's affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut."

12 While she was praying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips.

13 Hannah was speaking to herself, and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk

14 and scolded her, "How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!"

15 "No, my lord," Hannah replied. "I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven't had any wine or beer; I've been pouring out my heart before the Lord.

16 Don't think of me as a wicked woman; I've been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment."

17 Eli responded, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you've requested from Him."

18 "May your servant find favor with you," she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.

19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow and to worship the Lord. Afterwards, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because [she said], "I requested him from the Lord."

21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the Lord,

22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, "After the child is weaned, I'll take him to appear in the Lord's presence and to stay there permanently."

23 Her husband Elkanah replied, "Do what you think is best, and stay here until you've weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word." So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, two and one-half gallons of flour, and a jar of wine. Though the boy was [still] young, she took him to the Lord's house at Shiloh.

25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

26 "Please, my lord," she said, "as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

27 I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,

28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord." Then he bowed and worshiped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God.

3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant [words] come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him.

4 The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength.

5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving [hunger] no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away.

6 The Lord brings death and gives life; He sends [some] to Sheol, and He raises [others] up.

7 The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; He humbles and He exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; He has set the world on them.

9 He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked are silenced in darkness, for a man does not prevail by [his own] strength.

10 Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; He will thunder in the heavens against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to His king; He will lift up the horn of His anointed.

Psalms 49

1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,

2 both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation [brings] understanding.

4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.

6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.

7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God-

8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying-

9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.

10 For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.

11 Their graves are their eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.

12 But despite [his] assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah

14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

15 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.

17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.

18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime- and people praise you when you do well for yourself-

19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.

20 A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.