Thursday in Easter

1Verse 1. Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. 2Verse 2. Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines. 3Verse 3. The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them. 4Verse 4. Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, 5Verse 5. and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, 6Verse 6. and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7Verse 7. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. In addition, his shield bearer went before him. 8Verse 8. And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. 9Verse 9. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and work for us.” 10Verse 10. Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!” 11Verse 11. On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12Verse 12. Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years. 13Verse 13. The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 14Verse 14. And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, 15Verse 15. but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. 16Verse 16. For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand. 17Verse 17. One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18Verse 18. Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them. 19Verse 19. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” 20Verse 20. So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. 21Verse 21. And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other. 22Verse 22. Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. 23Verse 23. And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

12Verse 12. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13Verse 13. Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. 14Verse 14. Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord — large numbers of both men and women. 15Verse 15. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Verse 16. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.