Bible Reading
July 29
The World English Bible
July
29
2
Chronicles 19-21
2Ch
19:1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to
Jerusalem.
2Ch
19:2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said
to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked, and love those who
hate Yahweh? for this thing wrath is on you from before Yahweh.
2Ch
19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you
have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart
to seek God.
2Ch
19:4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the
people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought
them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
2Ch
19:5 He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities
of Judah, city by city,
2Ch
19:6 and said to the judges, Consider what you do: for you don't
judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is
with you in the judgment.
2Ch
19:7 Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you; take heed and
do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of
persons, nor taking of bribes.
2Ch
19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and
the priests, and of the heads of the fathers' houses
of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They
returned to Jerusalem.
2Ch
19:9 He commanded them, saying, Thus you shall do in the fear of
Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
2Ch
19:10 Whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brothers
who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they
not be guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your
brothers: this do, and you shall not be guilty.
2Ch
19:11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of
Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of
Judah, in all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers
before you. Deal courageously, and Yahweh be with the good.
2Ch
20:1 It happened after this, that the children of Moab, and the
children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against
Jehoshaphat to battle.
2Ch
20:2 Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes
a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria; and
behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar (the same is En Gedi).
2Ch
20:3 Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek to Yahweh; and he
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
2Ch
20:4 Judah gathered themselves together, to seek help
of Yahweh: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek
Yahweh.
2Ch
20:5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in
the house of Yahweh, before the new court;
2Ch
20:6 and he said, Yahweh, the God of our fathers, aren't you God in
heaven? and aren't you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations?
and in your hand is power and might, so that none is able to
withstand you.
2Ch
20:7 Did not you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land
before your people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham your
friend forever?
2Ch
20:8 They lived therein, and have built you a sanctuary therein for
your name, saying,
2Ch
20:9 If evil come on us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or
famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, (for your
name is in this house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you
will hear and save.
2Ch
20:10 Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir,
whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land
of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and didn't destroy them;
2Ch
20:11 behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your
possession, which you have given us to inherit.
2Ch
20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against
this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do:
but our eyes are on you.
2Ch
20:13 All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their
wives, and their children.
2Ch
20:14 Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the
son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph,
came the Spirit of Yahweh in the midst of the assembly;
2Ch
20:15 and he said, Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: Thus says Yahweh to you, Don't
you be afraid, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude;
for the battle is not yours, but God's.
2Ch
20:16 Tomorrow go down against them: behold, they come up by the
ascent of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the valley,
before the wilderness of Jeruel.
2Ch
20:17 You shall not need to fight in this battle:
set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with
you, O Judah and Jerusalem; don't be afraid, nor be dismayed:
tomorrow go out against them: for Yahweh is with you.
2Ch
20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and
all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh,
worshipping Yahweh.
2Ch
20:19 The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the
children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of
Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.
2Ch
20:20 They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the
wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and
said, Hear me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in
Yahweh your God, so you shall be established; believe his prophets,
so you shall prosper.
2Ch
20:21 When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those
who should sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they
went out before the army, and say, Give thanks to Yahweh; for his
loving kindness endures forever.
2Ch
20:22 When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers
against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come
against Judah; and they were struck.
2Ch
20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to kill and destroy them: and when
they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to
destroy another.
2Ch
20:24 When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they
looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to
the earth, and there were none who escaped.
2Ch
20:25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of
them, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies,
and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more
than they could carry away: and they were three days in taking the
spoil, it was so much.
2Ch
20:26 On the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of
Beracah; for there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name of that
place was called The valley of Beracah to this day.
2Ch
20:27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and
Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with
joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
2Ch
20:28 They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments and harps and
trumpets to the house of Yahweh.
2Ch
20:29 The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when
they heard that Yahweh fought against the enemies of Israel.
2Ch
20:30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him
rest all around.
2Ch
20:31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty-five years old
when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in
Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
2Ch
20:32 He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't turn aside
from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh.
2Ch
20:33 However the high places were not taken away; neither as yet
had the people set their hearts to the God of their fathers.
2Ch
20:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last,
behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani,
which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.
2Ch
20:35 After this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with
Ahaziah king of Israel; the same did very wickedly:
2Ch
20:36 and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to
Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion Geber.
2Ch
20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with
Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works. The ships were broken, so
that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
2Ch
21:1 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his
place.
2Ch
21:2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these
were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
2Ch
21:3 Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and
of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom
gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
2Ch
21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father,
and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the
sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
2Ch
21:5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
2Ch
21:6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house
of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife: and he did that
which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
2Ch
21:7 However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give
a lamp to him and to his children always.
2Ch
21:8 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and
made a king over themselves.
2Ch
21:9 Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his
chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites
who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
2Ch
21:10 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day:
then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because
he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
2Ch
21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and
made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, and led
Judah astray.
2Ch
21:12 There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you have not
walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa
king of Judah,
2Ch
21:13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have
made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute,
like as the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers of
your father's house, who were better than yourself:
2Ch
21:14 behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people,
and your children, and your wives, and all your substance;
2Ch
21:15 and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels,
until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
2Ch
21:16 Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians:
2Ch
21:17 and they came up against Judah, and broke into it, and carried
away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his
sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him,
save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
2Ch
21:18 After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an
incurable disease.
2Ch
21:19 It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years, that
his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore
diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his
fathers.
2Ch
21:20 Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he
reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being
desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the
tombs of the kings.
Jul.
28, 29
Acts
17
Act
17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
Act
17:2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath
days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Act
17:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and
rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I
proclaim to you, is the Christ."
Act
17:4 Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the
devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
Act
17:5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the
marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar.
Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the
people.
Act
17:6 When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and certain
brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have
turned the world upside down have come here also,
Act
17:7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees
of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!"
Act
17:8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when
they heard these things.
Act
17:9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let
them go.
Act
17:10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Act
17:11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Act
17:12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek
women, and not a few men.
Act
17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word
of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there
likewise, agitating the multitudes.
Act
17:14 Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to
the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.
Act
17:15 But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens.
Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to
him very quickly, they departed.
Act
17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was
provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
Act
17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout
persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
Act
17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were
conversing with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to
say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign
deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
Act
17:19 They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus,
saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken
by you?
Act
17:20 For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to
know therefore what these things mean."
Act
17:21 Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent
their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new
thing.
Act
17:22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, "You
men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
Act
17:23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your
worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'TO AN UNKNOWN
GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to
you.
Act
17:24 The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being
Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands,
Act
17:25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed
anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all
things.
Act
17:26 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the
surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the
boundaries of their dwellings,
Act
17:27 that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach
out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Act
17:28 'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' As some of
your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.'
Act
17:29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that
the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art
and design of man.
Act
17:30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he
commands that all people everywhere should repent,
Act
17:31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the
world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he
has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the
dead."
Act
17:32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked; but others said, "We want to hear you again concerning
this."
Act
17:33 Thus Paul went out from among them.
Act
17:34 But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also
was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others
with them.
On
September 29, 2011, I debated Blair Scott, the Director of
Communications for American Atheists, Inc. During the debate, he
suggested that one of the primary reasons (if not the only reason) that
people are Christians is because they were born into a society that is
predominantly Christian. He contended that this fact cast doubt on the
legitimacy of Christianity and the sincerity of the person who claims to
believe in Christianity based on the truth of its claims. Blair is not
the only atheist who has used this line of reasoning. When I debated Dan
Barker on February 12, 2009, he stated basically the same thing as
Blair, when he said, “there are other reasons besides reason and truth
that people come to their faith.” He continued:
