Former Atheist, Antony Flew, Dies at 87 by Kyle Butt, M.A.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3477

Former Atheist, Antony Flew, Dies at 87

by	Kyle Butt, M.A.

For many years, Antony Flew reigned as arguably the most able defender of atheism in the world. In fact, the subheading of one of Flew’s last books described him as “the world’s most notorious atheist” (Flew and Varghese, 2007). Flew’s monumental paper “Theology and Falsification,” which he “first presented at a 1950 meeting of the Oxford University Socratic Club chaired by C.S. Lewis, became the most widely reprinted philosophical publication of the last century” (2007, pp. vii-viii, emp. added). He authored more than 30 books, including his now-famous The Presumption of Atheism (“Antony Flew…,” 2010).
In spite of his atheistic teaching and writings, Flew rocked the atheistic community in 2004 when he announced that he had changed his mind (see Miller, 2004). He concluded that enough evidence had accrued to prove that some type of intelligent designer must be behind the origin of the Universe. In his book, There Is a God, co-written with Roy Varghese, Flew wrote:

The leaders of science over the last hundred years, along with some of today’s most influential scientists, have built a philosophically compelling vision of a rational universe that sprang from a divine Mind. As it happens, this is the particular view of the world that I now find to be the soundest philosophical explanation of the multitude of phenomena encountered by scientists and laypeople alike (2007, p. 91).

Of course, the atheistic community did not appreciate his “conversion.” Some prominent atheists accused him of being senile and attempted to downplay his book, claiming that he did not write much of it, but simply put his name on the material Roy Varghese wrote. Flew responded by explaining that he was not senile, and that the evidence for a divine Mind was inescapable.
Flew’s courageous decision to defy the atheistic community and admit that the evidence demands a divine Creator is commendable. His bravery brought to light the fact that the “advocates of tolerance were not themselves very tolerant. And, apparently, religious zealots don’t have a monopoly on dogmatism, incivility, fanaticism, and paranoia” (2007, p. viii). Flew experienced the ugly reality that creationists endure on a regular basis: those who believe in a Creator are persecuted for standing for the truth.
In spite of Flew’s bravery, his position failed to follow all the evidence to its logical conclusion. Flew, unfortunately, held a deistic belief in a divine Creator “who takes no interest in human affairs” (“Anthony Flew…,” 2010). He did not follow his quest for truth to the end of the path that would have led to the acceptance of Christianity (see Butt and Lyons, 2006).
On April 8, 2010, Antony Flew died at the age of 87 after fighting a long illness (“Antony Flew…,” 2010). He will be remembered for the writing he did in favor of atheism, and his courageous stand late in his life against that false philosophy. His life should remind us all that standing for the truth, in the face of fierce opposition, is the admirable course to take. His life should also encourage us not to stop at a mere belief in a Creator, but to invest our lives completely in the pursuit of identifying that Creator’s will for our lives (see Lyons and Butt, n.d.).

[NOTE: For more information, see the 1976 Warren-Flew Debate]

REFERENCES

“Anthony Flew, Once a Prominent Atheist, Dies at 87” (2010), April 14, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100414/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_obit_flew.
Butt, Kyle and Eric Lyons (2006), Behold! The Lamb of God: Exploring the Historicity, Deity, and Personality of Christ (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
Flew, Antony and Roy Varghese (2007), There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind (New York: Harper Collins).
Lyons, Eric and Kyle Butt (2010), Receiving the Gift of Salvation (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press), http://www.apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/Receiving%20the%20Gift%20of%20Salvation.pdf.
Miller, Dave (2004), “Atheist Finally ‘Sobers Up,’” http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2662.

Inspired Prediction is Proof of Bible Inspiration by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=5150

Inspired Prediction is Proof of Bible Inspiration

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Why would anyone believe that the Bible is the Word of God, having been transmitted through men who were supernaturally guided by God? Because the evidence so indicates. One of the proofs of Bible inspiration is predictive prophecy. Men committed to writing detailed predictions that pertained to events several hundred years into the future. One such example is the prophecy recalled by the writer of the book of Hebrews in which he quotes from Psalm 40. He places the words in the mouth of Jesus, applying the prediction to Jesus’ incarnation and sacrifice on the cross. His citation is taken from the Septuagint version rather than the original Hebrew:

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not de-sire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is writ-ten of Me—to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:5-7, emp. added).

The Bible teaches that Deity came to the Earth in human flesh in order to offer Himself as an atonement for the sins of the human race (Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14; et al.). The book of Hebrews was written in the first century A.D. But the Psalms were written several hundred years before that, with Psalm 40, written presumably by David, a thousand years earlier. That means that a thousand years separates the prediction from the fulfillment. Even the most liberal treatment of the Psalms places their composition prior to the first century A.D. The Greek Bible is generally believed to have been completed in the third century B.C., which means the Psalms had to have been completed prior to that time.

But how detailed was this prediction? Did it contain vague generalities and ambiguous phrases that can be bent to refer to just about anything? By no means. Among the details of the prediction, observe that the passage represents God (the Father) as being responsible for preparing/providing a body for Jesus (the Son) to inhabit. This body would replace the animal sacrifices and offerings contained in the Old Testament economy for dealing with sin. Such predictions are hardly vague or ambiguous. In fact, they are extremely specific and complex.

One of the great marvels of the Christian religion is the virgin conception in which Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, enabling her to conceive a child (Matthew 1:18-25). That child was Jesus Christ who vacated the heavenly realm temporarily to fulfill the magnificent, incomprehensi-ble purpose of sacrificing Himself for lost humanity (Philippians 2:6-8). A physical, fleshly body was necessary to accomplish this purpose. Hence, the need to be “born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4; cf. Genesis 3:15) by which Deity could inhabit a human body. Observe that the physical body was genetically derived from David via his descendent Mary (Luke 3:23,31; Romans 1:3)—in ful-fillment of another predictive prophecy (1 Samuel 7:12). But Jesus Himself is not to be confused with His physical body. Jesus Himself preceded the preparation and formation of the physical body that He inhabited in first century Palestine. Jesus Himself has always existed since He is Deity and eternal (Colossians 1:16; 2:9). Jesus Himself participated in the creation of the Universe (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:17).

How in the world could any mere human have predicted, hundreds of years in advance, that a person would be born who, unlike all other humans ever born, was in fact God inhabiting a physi-cal body? No mere human could have predicted such an event. Hence, the Bible bears the attributes of a supernatural origin.

From Mark Copeland... "THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT" Infractions Of The Law Of Love - I

                       "THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT"

                   Infractions Of The Law Of Love - I

INTRODUCTION

1. Our study of the "works of the flesh" as found in Ga 5:19-21 now
   focuses on a rather large group of sins that can be categorized
   together as "Infractions Of The Law Of Love"
   a. There are eight such sins listed
   b. They are "hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
      selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy" (NKJV)

2. Many people find it hard to conceive that these eight sins are
   really all that terrible...
   a. Notice this news clipping that made the front page of the Orlando
      Sentinel (1/7/81) under the heading, "Pope Widens Sin
      Definition":

         "Pope John Paul II said today that sins of the flesh are not
      limited to fornication, orgies and drunkenness, but include
      idolatry, jealousy, envy and unfriendliness.
         "The pope made the remarks to his weekly general audience at
      the Vatican, his forum for the past 14 months on the subject of
      sex and sin.
         "In his latest discussion of the subject, the pope cited St.
      Paul, the first-century apostle, as giving Christianity a very
      wide definition of sins of the flesh.
         "'It is significant that when Paul speaks about the works of
      the flesh, he mentions not only fornication, impurity,
      libertinage, drunkenness and orgies which are the sins of sensual
      pleasure,' the pope said, 'but also speaks of other sins to which
      we are not accustomed to attribute a carnal and sensual
      character:  idolatry, witchcraft, unfriendliness, discord,
      jealousy, dissent, divisions, factionalism, and envy.'"

   b. The paper makes it sound like the pope is declaring something
      new, but as the pope himself stated, this is what Paul taught in
      the very passage we are studying
   c. Indeed, what is said of immorality and drunkenness is also said
      of these eight sins:

      "...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
      of God"

3. Therefore there is a great need...
   a. To be informed as to what these sins entail
   b. To make a concentrated effort to put them out of our lives

[In this lesson, we shall look at the first two sins, which are closely
related to one another.  Starting with...]

I. ECHTHRA (enmities, hatred)

   A. THE WORD DEFINED...
      1. Closely related to the word "echthros" which is the Greek word
         for ENEMY
      2. "echthra" means ENMITY, HOSTILITY
      3. Notice how it is used in...
         a. Lk 23:12 - "they had been at enmity with each other"
         b. Ro 8:7 - "the carnal mind is at enmity against God"
         c. Jm 4:4 - "friendship with the world is enmity with God"
      4. It was used to describe the enmity or hostility between...
         a. Social classes - the "haves" and the "have nots"
         b. Races - as existed between Greeks and Barbarians, Jews and
            Gentiles
         c. Man and man - as often exists where there is hostility for
            one reason or another
      5. Thus it describes a state and attitude of mind toward other
         people which involves barriers between them and you

   B. WHY THIS SIN IS SO CONTRARY TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE...
      1. Because Jesus died to remove the barriers that separate men
         from one another - Ep 2:13-16
         a. It is true that He died to reconcile us back to God
         b. But it is just as true that He died to reconcile man back
            to man!
         c. As we grow in Christ, we are to be so renewed in Him that
            distinctions lose their meaning - Col 3:9-11
         -- When we are at enmity with one another, we undo the work of
            Christ on the cross and in our lives!
      2. Enmity is the direct opposite of love (agape); consider the
         contrast:
         a. "agape" - an attitude of mind which will never allow itself
            to be bitter to any man; always seeking the highest good of
            others
         b. "echthra" - the attitude which puts up barriers and draws
            the sword of division
         -- When we allow the work of the flesh to rule (e.g., echthra)
            we cannot allow the Spirit to produce the proper fruit in
            our lives (e.g., love)

[The sin of "enmity" involves any sort of hostility or prejudice
towards others; as such it has no place in the life of the Christian.
This is also true of...]

II. ERIS (contentions, strife, variance)

   A. THE WORD DEFINED...
      1. "eris" is the expression of enmity or hatred; it is the
         outcome in actual life of that state of mind
      2. Other versions translate the word "eris" as "wrangling",
         "quarreling", "fighting", "discord"
      3. Paul uses this word to describe one of the evils that was
         characteristic of the pagan world - Ro 1:28-29
      4. Sadly, it can also describe the condition that may exist in a
         church - cf. 1Co 1:11; 3:3

   B. UNDERSTANDING AND DEALING WITH THIS SIN...
      1. This particular sin invades churches more often, perhaps, than
         many others
         a. Because of our tendency to categorize sins, we may allow
            this one to linger and fester more than such sins as
            fornication, adultery
         b. Yet this sin is most destructive of Christian fellowship;
            it will just as easily destroy (maybe even more so) a local
            congregation as will sins of moral impurity
      2. Overcoming "contentions"...
         a. Begins with realizing that it is often the expression of
            "hatred" or "enmity", which has no place in the heart of 
            the Christian
         b. As illustrated in the case of Corinth, it often arises when
            members place too high a value on personalities, and not on
            Jesus Christ - cf. 1Co 1:12
         c. The key, then, is to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord, and let
            His attitude and example govern our dealings with one
            another - cf. 1Co 2:2; 2Co 4:5; Php 2:3-5

CONCLUSION

1. Notice again these brief definitions...
   a. "echthra" - enmity or hostility that one may harbor in one's
      heart toward another
   b. "eris" - strife or quarreling that results from such hostility

2. That such sins can keep us out of the kingdom of heaven just as
   easily as fornication, idolatry and sorcery, ought to cause us to
   seriously reflect about our spiritual growth and development as
   Christians

3. Perhaps more than ever since we started this study, we see the
   challenge we face as we live the Christian life
   a. It is not a matter of simply abstaining from what some people
      might call the "big" sins
   b. It is a matter of undergoing a complete transformation of
      character, made possible only as we submit to the working of the
      Spirit in our lives!
   c. As Paul wrote to the brethren in Rome:

   "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
   present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
   which is your reasonable service."

   "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
   renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
   acceptable and perfect will of God."
                                               -- Ro 12:1-2

Are you seeking to be so transformed by the renewing of your mind?  It
begins with a "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit"... - cf. Tit 3:5; Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... A sign for the times

The sign does not say which version of the Bible the quote is from, but after comparing 7 different translations...

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (World English Bible)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (American Standard Bible, 1901)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (English Standard Version)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (King James Version, 1769)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (Webster's version)
14 If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (Young's literal Translation)
14 and My people on whom My name is called be humbled, and pray, and seek My face, and turn back from their evil ways, then I--I hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.
  
2 Chronicles, Chapter 7 (The Emphasized Bible)
14 if my people upon whom my Name is called shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will, I myself, hear out of the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land. 

The answer is...

TRUTH IS STILL TRUTH!!! All that is left for us to do is to obey!!! 

From Gary... Bible Reading July 16

Bible Reading  

July 16

The World English Bible

July 16

1 Chronicles 10-12

1Ch 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.

1Ch 10:2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

1Ch 10:3 The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.

1Ch 10:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.

1Ch 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died.

1Ch 10:6 So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together.

1Ch 10:7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

1Ch 10:8 It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

1Ch 10:9 They stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.

1Ch 10:10 They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

1Ch 10:11 When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

1Ch 10:12 all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

1Ch 10:13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh, which he didn't keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby,

1Ch 10:14 and didn't inquire of Yahweh: therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

1Ch 11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

1Ch 11:2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh your God said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.

1Ch 11:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.

1Ch 11:4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

1Ch 11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

1Ch 11:6 David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.

1Ch 11:7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David.

1Ch 11:8 He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

1Ch 11:9 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him.

1Ch 11:10 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.

1Ch 11:11 This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.

1Ch 11:12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

1Ch 11:13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

1Ch 11:14 They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.

1Ch 11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

1Ch 11:16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

1Ch 11:17 David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

1Ch 11:18 The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,

1Ch 11:19 and said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

1Ch 11:20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.

1Ch 11:21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the first three.

1Ch 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.

1Ch 11:23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

1Ch 11:24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.

1Ch 11:25 Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three: and David set him over his guard.

1Ch 11:26 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

1Ch 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

1Ch 11:28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

1Ch 11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

1Ch 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

1Ch 11:31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

1Ch 11:32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

1Ch 11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

1Ch 11:34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

1Ch 11:35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

1Ch 11:36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

1Ch 11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

1Ch 11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

1Ch 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

1Ch 11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

1Ch 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

1Ch 11:42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

1Ch 11:43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

1Ch 11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

1Ch 11:45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

1Ch 11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

1Ch 11:47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

1Ch 12:1 Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.

1Ch 12:2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul's brothers of Benjamin.

1Ch 12:3 The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,

1Ch 12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,

1Ch 12:5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

1Ch 12:6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,

1Ch 12:7 and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

1Ch 12:8 Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;

1Ch 12:9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

1Ch 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

1Ch 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

1Ch 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

1Ch 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

1Ch 12:14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.

1Ch 12:15 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

1Ch 12:16 There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.

1Ch 12:17 David went out to meet them, and answered them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if you be come to betray me to my adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

1Ch 12:18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you." Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

1Ch 12:19 Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they didn't help them; for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

1Ch 12:20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.

1Ch 12:21 They helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.

1Ch 12:22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

1Ch 12:23 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Yahweh.

1Ch 12:24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.

1Ch 12:25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

1Ch 12:26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

1Ch 12:27 Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,

1Ch 12:28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty-two captains.

1Ch 12:29 Of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

1Ch 12:30 Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses.

1Ch 12:31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.

1Ch 12:32 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.

1Ch 12:33 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could order the battle array, and were not of double heart.

1Ch 12:34 Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.

1Ch 12:35 Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.

1Ch 12:36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.

1Ch 12:37 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand.

1Ch 12:38 All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

1Ch 12:39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had made preparation for them.

1Ch 12:40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.

Jul. 16, 17

Acts 11

Act 11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Act 11:2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

Act 11:3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"

Act 11:4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,

Act 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.

Act 11:6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.

Act 11:7 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'

Act 11:8 But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'

Act 11:9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'

Act 11:10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

Act 11:11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.

Act 11:12 The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.

Act 11:13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,

Act 11:14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'

Act 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

Act 11:16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

Act 11:17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"

Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"

Act 11:19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

Act 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Act 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Act 11:22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,

Act 11:23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

Act 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

Act 11:25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Act 11:26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It happened, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Act 11:27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Act 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

Act 11:29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;

Act 11:30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.