July 14, 2014

From Gary... Let the fun BEGIN!!!


Somehow, when I saw this picture, I thought of that old "Little House on the Prairie" episode where "half pint" is so despondent over her wish that her baby brother would die, that she goes to a high mountain in search of God. Seeking God in high elevations is also found in the Scriptures; in fact, in one of my favorite passages...
1 Kings, Chapter 19 (NASB)
1Ki 19:1  Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
1Ki 19:2  Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
1Ki 19:3  And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Ki 19:4  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
1Ki 19:5  He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat."
1Ki 19:6  Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
1Ki 19:7  The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you."
1Ki 19:8  So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
1Ki 19:9  Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:10  He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:11  So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
1Ki 19:12  After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.

1Ki 19:13  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:14  Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:15  The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;
1Ki 19:16  and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17  "It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.
1Ki 19:18  "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."
Even the best of us have our weaknesses! God worked greatly through Elijah, but the prophet was afraid of Jezebel. So God guided him to a place where he could directed further. It is interesting to me that God was not in the magnificent manifestations, but rather in the "gentle blowing". Both "half-pint" and Elijah encountered God in high places and both received guidance.  But, to me the truly important thing is that if you genuinely seek God- HE WILL FIND YOU. Then the fun begins...

From Gary... Bible Reading July 14

Bible Reading  
July 14

The World English Bible


July 14
1 Chronicles 4-6

1Ch 4:1 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
1Ch 4:2 Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
1Ch 4:3 These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;
1Ch 4:4 and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
1Ch 4:5 Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
1Ch 4:6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
1Ch 4:7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
1Ch 4:8 Hakkoz became the father of Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
1Ch 4:9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers: and his mother named him Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with sorrow.
1Ch 4:10 Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow! God granted him that which he requested.
1Ch 4:11 Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
1Ch 4:12 Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These are the men of Recah.
1Ch 4:13 The sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
1Ch 4:14 Meonothai became the father of Ophrah: and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge Harashim; for they were craftsmen.
1Ch 4:15 The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah; and Kenaz.
1Ch 4:16 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
1Ch 4:17 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
1Ch 4:18 His wife the Jewess bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.
1Ch 4:19 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
1Ch 4:20 The sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben Zoheth.
1Ch 4:21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;
1Ch 4:22 and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. The records are ancient.
1Ch 4:23 These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: there they lived with the king for his work.
1Ch 4:24 The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
1Ch 4:25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
1Ch 4:26 The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
1Ch 4:27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn't have many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah.
1Ch 4:28 They lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,
1Ch 4:29 and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
1Ch 4:30 and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
1Ch 4:31 and at Beth Marcaboth, and Hazar Susim, and at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities to the reign of David.
1Ch 4:32 Their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
1Ch 4:33 and all their villages that were around the same cities, to Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.
1Ch 4:34 Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
1Ch 4:35 and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
1Ch 4:36 and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
1Ch 4:37 and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah--
1Ch 4:38 these mentioned by name were princes in their families: and their fathers' houses increased greatly.
1Ch 4:39 They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
1Ch 4:40 They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for those who lived there before were of Ham.
1Ch 4:41 These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place; because there was pasture there for their flocks.
1Ch 4:42 Some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
1Ch 4:43 They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.
1Ch 5:1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
1Ch 5:2 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's:)
1Ch 5:3 the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
1Ch 5:4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
1Ch 5:5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
1Ch 5:6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
1Ch 5:7 His brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
1Ch 5:8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon:
1Ch 5:9 and eastward he lived even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their livestock were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
1Ch 5:10 In the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.
1Ch 5:11 The sons of Gad lived over against them, in the land of Bashan to Salecah:
1Ch 5:12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.
1Ch 5:13 Their brothers of their fathers' houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.
1Ch 5:14 These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
1Ch 5:15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers' houses.
1Ch 5:16 They lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.
1Ch 5:17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
1Ch 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, that were able to go forth to war.
1Ch 5:19 They made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.
1Ch 5:20 They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in him.
1Ch 5:21 They took away their livestock; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men one hundred thousand.
1Ch 5:22 For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. They lived in their place until the captivity.
1Ch 5:23 The children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land: they increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon.
1Ch 5:24 These were the heads of their fathers' houses: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.
1Ch 5:25 They trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the prostitute after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
1Ch 5:26 The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
1Ch 6:1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
1Ch 6:2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
1Ch 6:3 The children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
1Ch 6:4 Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,
1Ch 6:5 and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,
1Ch 6:6 and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,
1Ch 6:7 Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
1Ch 6:8 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,
1Ch 6:9 and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,
1Ch 6:10 and Johanan became the father of Azariah, (he it is who executed the priest's office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem),
1Ch 6:11 and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
1Ch 6:12 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,
1Ch 6:13 and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,
1Ch 6:14 and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;
1Ch 6:15 Jehozadak went into captivity, when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
1Ch 6:16 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
1Ch 6:17 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.
1Ch 6:18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
1Ch 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
1Ch 6:20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
1Ch 6:21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.
1Ch 6:22 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
1Ch 6:23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,
1Ch 6:24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
1Ch 6:25 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth.
1Ch 6:26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
1Ch 6:27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
1Ch 6:28 The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Joel, and the second Abijah.
1Ch 6:29 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
1Ch 6:30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
1Ch 6:31 These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Yahweh, after that the ark had rest.
1Ch 6:32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order.
1Ch 6:33 These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
1Ch 6:34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
1Ch 6:35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
1Ch 6:36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
1Ch 6:37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
1Ch 6:38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
1Ch 6:39 His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,
1Ch 6:40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
1Ch 6:41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
1Ch 6:42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
1Ch 6:43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
1Ch 6:44 On the left hand their brothers the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
1Ch 6:45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
1Ch 6:46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,
1Ch 6:47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
1Ch 6:48 Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
1Ch 6:49 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
1Ch 6:50 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
1Ch 6:51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
1Ch 6:52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
1Ch 6:53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
1Ch 6:54 Now these are their dwelling places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first lot),
1Ch 6:55 to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;
1Ch 6:56 but the fields of the city, and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
1Ch 6:57 To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:58 and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:59 and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth Shemesh with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:60 and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
1Ch 6:61 To the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.
1Ch 6:62 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
1Ch 6:63 To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
1Ch 6:64 The children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their suburbs.
1Ch 6:65 They gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.
1Ch 6:66 Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.
1Ch 6:67 They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:68 and Jokmeam with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:69 and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:70 and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs, and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
1Ch 6:71 To the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:72 and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:73 and Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:74 and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:75 and Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:76 and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.
1Ch 6:77 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its suburbs, Tabor with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:78 and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:79 and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;
1Ch 6:80 and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
1Ch 6:81 and Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

 
Jul. 14, 15
Acts 10

Act 10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
Act 10:2 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.
Act 10:3 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!"
Act 10:4 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.
Act 10:5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
Act 10:6 He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."
Act 10:7 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.
Act 10:8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Act 10:9 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.
Act 10:10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
Act 10:11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,
Act 10:12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
Act 10:13 A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!"
Act 10:14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
Act 10:15 A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean."
Act 10:16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.
Act 10:17 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,
Act 10:18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.
Act 10:19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you.
Act 10:20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
Act 10:21 Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"
Act 10:22 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."
Act 10:23 So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
Act 10:24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
Act 10:25 When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."
Act 10:27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
Act 10:28 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.
Act 10:29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"
Act 10:30 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,
Act 10:31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
Act 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.'
Act 10:33 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."
Act 10:34 Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn't show favoritism;
Act 10:35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
Act 10:36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ-he is Lord of all-
Act 10:37 that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 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.
Act 10:39 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.
Act 10:40 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,
Act 10:41 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.
Act 10:42 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.
Act 10:43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."
Act 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
Act 10:45 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.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
Act 10:47 "Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?"
Act 10:48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

From Mark Copeland... Paul's Ministry At Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                 Paul's Ministry At Ephesus (19:1-41)

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul's third missionary journey began in Antioch of Syria...
   a. Where he started all three journeys - Ac 13:1-3; 15:36-41
   b. As with his second journey, it began by visiting churches 
      established on his first missionary journey - Ac 15:41; 16:1-5; 
      18:22-23 

2. The first major stop on Paul's third journey with the city of 
   Ephesus...
   a. Where he had briefly stopped on his second journey - Ac 18:19-20
   b. Where he had promised to return, God willing - Ac 18:21  

[Paul's stay at Ephesus on his third journey proved to the longest of
any recorded by Luke.  It lasted about three years (52-55 A.D., ESV
Study Bible), and was a very productive ministry by Paul...]

I. PAUL'S MINISTRY AS RECORDED BY LUKE

   A. CONVERTING TWELVE DISCIPLES...
      1. Who needed to be baptized again (see previous lesson) - Ac 19:1-5
      2. Who received the Spirit, spoke in tongues and prophesied, after
         Paul laid his hands on them - Ac 19:6-7

   B. TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE...
      1. As was Paul's custom when allowed - Ac 17:2; 18:4
      2. This Paul did at Ephesus for three months - Ac 19:8
      3. This was longer than at other places - cf. Ac 13:42-45; 14:1-2;
         17:1-10,11-15; 18:4-6

   C. TEACHING IN THE SCHOOL OF TYRANNUS...
      1. As happened elsewhere, Paul was forced to leave the synagogue 
         - Ac 19:9; cf. Ac 18:4-6
      2. He then taught in the school of Tyrannus for two years - Ac 19:9-10; cf. Ac 18:7
      3. During this time, all in Asia (western Turkey) heard the word of
         the Lord - Ac 19:10
      4. Probably through the aid of men like Epaphras - Col 1:7; 4:12-13

   D. WORKING UNUSUAL MIRACLES...
      1. Involving handkerchiefs or aprons from his body to heal others
         - Ac 19:11-12
      2. Prompting Jewish exorcists to try and use Jesus' and Paul's
         names - Ac 19:13-16
      3. The evident contrast between true and false miracle workers led
         many to believe - Ac 19:17
      4. Those who believed were willing to confess and repent at great
         cost - Ac 19:18-19
      5. Thus the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed - Ac 19:20

   E. THE RIOT AT EPHESUS...
      1. Toward the end of his ministry, as Paul began making plans to 
         leave - Ac 19:21-22
         a. Purposing in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia
            - cf. Ac 20:1-5
         b. Then returning to Jerusalem, followed by a trip to Rome - cf.
            Ac 20:5-21:17; 27:1-28:16
         c. In preparation for his departure, he sent Timothy and Erastus
            to Macedonia - Ac 19:22
      2. The Diana incident - Ac 19:23-41
         a. A great commotion, brought on by Demetrius and other 
            silversmiths - Ac 19:23-28
         b. In which a mob takes two of Paul's companions, Gaius and
            Aristarchus - Ac 19:29
         c. Paul was restrained by officials from Asia from addressing 
            the mob - Ac 19:30-31
         d. The Jews put forth Alexander, which further enraged the mob
            - Ac 19:32-34
         e. The riot was barely controlled by the city clerk, who 
            exonerated Paul's companions - Ac 19:35-41

[Paul soon left Ephesus and went on to Macedonia as planned (Ac 20:1). 
Luke's account of Paul's ministry in Ephesus records great success (Ac
19:10,20).  But we can glean even more about his time in Ephesus from
other New Testament sources...]

II. PAUL'S MINISTRY AS INDICATED ELSEWHERE

   A. A QUICK TRIP TO CORINTH...
      1. Paul made a short visit to Corinth, his second - cf. 2Co 12:14;
         13:1
      2. His first visit was during the second journey - Ac 18:1
      3. His third visit was later on the third journey - Ac 20:1-3
      4. The book of Acts is silent about this second visit, but most
         place it sometime during his stay at Ephesus

   B. EPISTLES TO CORINTH...
      1. A letter to the Corinthians (now lost), only alluded to - 1Co 5:9
      2. Another letter what we now know as First Corinthians - 1Co 16:5-8,19

   C. EMISSARIES TO CORINTH...
      1. Timothy
         a. Sent from Ephesus to Macedonia - Ac 19:22
         b. Who would arrive after First Corinthians - 1Co 4:17; 16:10-11
      2. Titus and "a brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout 
         all the churches" (Luke?)
         a. To encourage the Corinthians concerning the collection - 2Co 8:6,16-19
         b. To bring Paul word as to how the Corinthians received the
            first letter? - 2Co 12:17-18
         c. Whose delayed return would later give Paul concern - 2Co 2:12-13
         d. But who would eventually bring Paul good news - 2Co 7:5-7,
            13-16

   D. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT PAUL'S STAY IN EPHESUS...
      1. Sosthenes was there, joining Paul in writing to the Corinthians
         - 1Co 1:1
      2. Paul had been visited by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
         - 1Co 16:17
      3. Aquila and Priscilla hosted the church in their house - 1Co 16:19
      4. Paul's sufferings while at Ephesus - Ac 20:17-19; 1Co 15:30-32;
         2Co 1:8-11
      5. Paul's preaching while at Ephesus - Ac 20:21-21,25-27,31
      6. Paul's manual labor while at Ephesus - Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 4:11,12

CONCLUSION

1. Harmonizing Luke's account with what is written elsewhere, we learn 
   that...
   a. The gospel spread throughout Asia (SW Turkey) - Ac 19:10,20
   b. Paul's three years in Ephesus was very productive - Ac 20:17-21,31
   c. His influence spread even further through epistles and emissaries

2. Reflecting on Paul's ministry in Ephesus, we glean many things,
   including...
   a. The importance of scriptural baptism - Ac 19:1-7
   b. The power of the gospel to transform lives - Ac 19:18-20
   c. The resistance of many who put money and tradition above the will
      of God - Ac 19:23-34

May Paul's example of faithful ministry in Ephesus encourage and inspire
us to be faithful in our own service to the Lord...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013