Bible Reading
August 5
The World English Bible
Aug.
5
Ezra
4-6
Ezr
4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God
of Israel;
Ezr
4:2 then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers'
houses, and
said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do;
and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of
Assyria, who brought us up here.
Ezr
4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of
fathers' houses
of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a
house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the
God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
Ezr
4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of
Judah, and troubled them in building,
Ezr
4:5 and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose,
all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius
king of Persia.
Ezr
4:6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote
they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Ezr
4:7 In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and
the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the
writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character,
and set forth in the Syrian language.
Ezr
4:8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Ezr
4:9 then wrote
Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their
companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites,
the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites,
the Dehaites, the Elamites,
Ezr
4:10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar
brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of
the country beyond the River, and so
forth.
Ezr
4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the
king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
Ezr
4:12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you are
come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad
city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
Ezr
4:13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the
walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in
the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
Ezr
4:14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not
appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent
and informed the king;
Ezr
4:15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your
fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that
this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces,
and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for
which cause was this city laid waste.
Ezr
4:16 We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls
finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.
Ezr
4:17 Then
sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the
scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and
in the rest of the country
beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
Ezr
4:18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before
me.
Ezr
4:19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this
city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that
rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
Ezr
4:20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have
ruled over all the country
beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.
Ezr
4:21 Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this
city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.
Ezr
4:22 Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow
to the hurt of the kings?
Ezr
4:23 Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before
Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in
haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and
power.
Ezr
4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem;
and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of
Persia.
Ezr
5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of
Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the
name of the God of Israel prophesied
they to them.
Ezr
5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son
of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at
Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
Ezr
5:3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the
River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to
them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this
wall?
Ezr
5:4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men
were who were making this building.
Ezr
5:5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they
did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and
then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
Ezr
5:6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the
River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who
were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king;
Ezr
5:7 they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius
the king, all peace.
Ezr
5:8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of
Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great
stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with
diligence and prospers in their hands.
Ezr
5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you
a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
Ezr
5:10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might
write the names of the men who were at the head of them.
Ezr
5:11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of
the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was
built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and
finished.
Ezr
5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,
the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away
into Babylon.
Ezr
5:13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king
made a decree to build this house of God.
Ezr
5:14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and
brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out
of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name
was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
Ezr
5:15 and he said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the
temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its
place.
Ezr
5:16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the
house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until
now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
Ezr
5:17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search
made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether
it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this
house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us
concerning this matter.
Ezr
6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the
house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
Ezr
6:2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the
province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a
record:
Ezr
6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a
decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be
built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations
be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty
cubits;
Ezr
6:4 with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber:
and let the expenses be given out of the king's house.
Ezr
6:5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem,
and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple
which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them
in the house of God.
Ezr
6:6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River,
Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond
the River, you must stay far from there.
Ezr
6:7 Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of
the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its
place.
Ezr
6:8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of
the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's
goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with
all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered.
Ezr
6:9 That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and
lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also
wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who
are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
Ezr
6:10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of
heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
Ezr
6:11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word,
let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and
fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
Ezr
6:12 and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow
all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the
same, to destroy this house of God which
is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all
diligence.
Ezr
6:13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai,
and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did
accordingly with all diligence.
Ezr
6:14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They
built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of
Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Ezr
6:15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar,
which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Ezr
6:16 The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this
house of God with joy.
Ezr
6:17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred
bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering
for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the
tribes of Israel.
Ezr
6:18 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in
their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it
is written in the book of Moses.
Ezr
6:19 The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the
fourteenth day
of the first month.
Ezr
6:20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves
together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all
the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests,
and for themselves.
Ezr
6:21 The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity,
and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness
of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate,
Ezr
6:22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for
Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of
Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house
of God, the God of Israel.
Aug.
5, 6
Acts
21
Act
21:1 When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail,
we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes,
and from there to Patara.
Act
21:2 Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard,
and set sail.
Act
21:3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left
hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was
to unload her cargo.
Act
21:4 Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said
to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Act
21:5 When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed
and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought
us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the
beach, we prayed.
Act
21:6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship,
and they returned home again.
Act
21:7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at
Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.
Act
21:8 On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and
came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist,
who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
Act
21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Act
21:10 As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus
came down from Judea.
Act
21:11 Coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet
and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the
Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver
him into the hands of the Gentiles.' "
Act
21:12 When we heard these things, both we and they of that place
begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Act
21:13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and
breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to
die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
Act
21:14 When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The
Lord's will be done."
Act
21:15 After these days we took up our baggage and went up to
Jerusalem.
Act
21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us,
bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would
stay.
Act
21:17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us
gladly.
Act
21:18 The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the
elders were present.
Act
21:19 When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things
which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Act
21:20 They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him,
"You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews
of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
Act
21:21 They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews
who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to
circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.
Act
21:22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will
hear that you have come.
Act
21:23 Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken
a vow.
Act
21:24 Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their
expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will
know that there is no truth in the things that they have been
informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law.
Act
21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our
decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they
should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from
strangled things, and from sexual immorality."
Act
21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and
went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days
of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of
them.
Act
21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia,
when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and
laid hands on him,
Act
21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who
teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this
place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has
defiled this holy place!"
Act
21:29 For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the
city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Act
21:30 All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They
seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors
were shut.
Act
21:31 As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the
commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an
uproar.
Act
21:32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to
them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped
beating Paul.
Act
21:33 Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded
him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he
had done.
Act
21:34 Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd.
When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he
commanded him to be brought into the barracks.
Act
21:35 When he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by
the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;
Act
21:36 for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out,
"Away with him!"
Act
21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked
the commanding officer, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Do
you know Greek?
Act
21:38 Aren't you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up
to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of
the Assassins?"
Act
21:39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a
citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the
people."
Act
21:40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the
stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great
silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
