Bible Reading for August 4 and 5
World English Bible
Aug.
4
Ezra
1-3
Ezr
1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of
Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred
up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation
throughout all his kingdom, and put it
also in writing, saying,
Ezr
1:2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth
has Yahweh, the God of heaven, given me; and he has commanded me to
build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezr
1:3 Whoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with
him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the
house of Yahweh, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in
Jerusalem.
Ezr
1:4 Whoever is left, in any place where he sojourns, let the men of
his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and
with animals, besides the freewill offering for the house of God
which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr
1:5 Then rose up the heads of fathers' houses
of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all
whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Yahweh
which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr
1:6 All those who were around them strengthened their hands with
vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with
precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
Ezr
1:7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of
Yahweh, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and
had put in the house of his gods;
Ezr
1:8 even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of
Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the
prince of Judah.
Ezr
1:9 This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one
thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives,
Ezr
1:10 thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four
hundred and ten, and other vessels one thousand.
Ezr
1:11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and
four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when they of the
captivity were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Ezr
2:1 Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of
the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar
the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to
Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
Ezr
2:2 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the
men of the people of Israel:
Ezr
2:3 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
Ezr
2:4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
Ezr
2:5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
Ezr
2:6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and
Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
Ezr
2:7 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
Ezr
2:8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.
Ezr
2:9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
Ezr
2:10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
Ezr
2:11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
Ezr
2:12 The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
Ezr
2:13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.
Ezr
2:14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
Ezr
2:15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
Ezr
2:16 The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
Ezr
2:17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
Ezr
2:18 The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
Ezr
2:19 The children of Hashum, two hundred Twenty-three.
Ezr
2:20 The children of Gibbar, ninety-five.
Ezr
2:21 The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
Ezr
2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
Ezr
2:23 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
Ezr
2:24 The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
Ezr
2:25 The children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred forty-three.
Ezr
2:26 The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
Ezr
2:27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
Ezr
2:28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
Ezr
2:29 The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
Ezr
2:30 The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.
Ezr
2:31 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred
fifty-four.
Ezr
2:32 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
Ezr
2:33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
Ezr
2:34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
Ezr
2:35 The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
Ezr
2:36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua,
nine hundred seventy-three.
Ezr
2:37 The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
Ezr
2:38 The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
Ezr
2:39 The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
Ezr
2:40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the
children of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
Ezr
2:41 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
Ezr
2:42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the
children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the
children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred
thirty-nine.
Ezr
2:43 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha,
the children of Tabbaoth,
Ezr
2:44 the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of
Padon,
Ezr
2:45 the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children
of Akkub,
Ezr
2:46 the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of
Hanan,
Ezr
2:47 the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of
Reaiah,
Ezr
2:48 the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of
Gazzam,
Ezr
2:49 the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of
Besai,
Ezr
2:50 the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of
Nephisim,
Ezr
2:51 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children
of Harhur,
Ezr
2:52 the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children
of Harsha,
Ezr
2:53 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of
Temah,
Ezr
2:54 the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
Ezr
2:55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
Ezr
2:56 the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of
Giddel,
Ezr
2:57 the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the
children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
Ezr
2:58 All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were
three hundred ninety-two.
Ezr
2:59 These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha,
Cherub, Addan, and
Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, and their seed,
whether they were of Israel:
Ezr
2:60 the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children
of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
Ezr
2:61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the
children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the
daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their
name.
Ezr
2:62 These sought their register among
those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found:
therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.
Ezr
2:63 The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most
holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and with
Thummim.
Ezr
2:64 The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three
hundred sixty,
Ezr
2:65 besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom
there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had
two hundred singing men and singing women.
Ezr
2:66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two
hundred forty-five;
Ezr
2:67 their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their
donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
Ezr
2:68 Some of the heads of fathers' houses,
when they came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, offered
willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:
Ezr
2:69 they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work
sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver,
and one hundred priests' garments.
Ezr
2:70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and
the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, lived in their
cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Ezr
3:1 When the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were
in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to
Jerusalem.
Ezr
3:2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and
built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings
thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
Ezr
3:3 They set the altar on its base; for fear was on them because of
the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt offerings
thereon to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
Ezr
3:4 They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered
the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as
the duty of every day required;
Ezr
3:5 and afterward the continual burnt offering, and the
offerings of the new moons, and of all
the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who
willingly offered a freewill offering to Yahweh.
Ezr
3:6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer
burnt offerings to Yahweh: but the foundation of the temple of Yahweh
was not yet laid.
Ezr
3:7 They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and
food, and drink, and oil, to them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to
bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the
grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Ezr
3:8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at
Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their
brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who were come out
of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty
years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house
of Yahweh.
Ezr
3:9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and
his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the
workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and
their brothers the Levites.
Ezr
3:10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh,
they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites
the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, after the order of
David king of Israel.
Ezr
3:11 They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to
Yahweh, saying,
For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward
Israel. All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised
Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid.
Ezr
3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers'
houses, the
old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this
house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many
shouted aloud for joy:
Ezr
3:13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of
joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people
shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
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.
4
Acts 20
Act
20:1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took
leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
Act
20:2 When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them
with many words, he came into Greece.
Act
20:3 When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made
against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he
determined to return through Macedonia.
Act
20:4 These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea;
Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe;
Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Act
20:5 But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
Act
20:6 We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened
Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven
days.
Act
20:7 On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered
together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart
on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.
Act
20:8 There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were
gathered together.
Act
20:9 A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed
down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down
by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up
dead.
Act
20:10 Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said,
"Don't be troubled, for his life is in him."
Act
20:11 When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had
talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
Act
20:12 They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.
Act
20:13 But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos,
intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged,
intending himself to go by land.
Act
20:14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to
Mitylene.
Act
20:15 Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios.
The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the
day after we came to Miletus.
Act
20:16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might
not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were
possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
Act
20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the
elders of the assembly.
Act
20:18 When they had come to him, he said to them, "You
yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I
was with you all the time,
Act
20:19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with
trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
Act
20:20 how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was
profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
Act
20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God,
and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
Act
20:22 Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not
knowing what will happen to me there;
Act
20:23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying
that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
Act
20:24 But these things don't count; nor do I hold my life dear to
myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which
I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of
the grace of God.
Act
20:25 "Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went
about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Act
20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the
blood of all men,
Act
20:27 for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of
God.
Act
20:28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the
assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
Act
20:29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter
in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act
20:30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse
things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Act
20:31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years
I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
Act
20:32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
Act
20:33 I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing.
Act
20:34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities,
and those who were with me.
Act
20:35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you
ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Act
20:36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with
them all.
Act
20:37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,
Act
20:38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken,
that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to
the ship.
Aug. 5
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,
