Restoration: A Treasure in Earthen Vessels by J.C. Bailey

  http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Bailey/John/Carlos/1903/Articles/treasure.html

 Restoration: A Treasure in Earthen Vessels

God intended that man should obey Him. Man's history has been one of disobedience, with only a few exceptions. The work of Noah was an effort to bring man back to God's way but it was largely a failure and man was destroyed.

God gave Israel a law at Sinai. Moses had not come down from the mountain with the two tables of stone until there was rebellion against the law of God. Time after time God sent prophets to warn Israel of the fruit of their disobedience, but finally the children of Israel went into captivity because they did not hearken to the law or the voice of the prophets. They returned from that captivity a chastened people, but they were not fully converted to the will of God. We have but to read the books of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi to see that the rebellion against God's law was still there.

John the Baptist came to turn the heart of the children to the fathers and the heart of the fathers to the children, lest the Lord should come and smite the earth with a curse. It is said that John only had one sermon. It was that men should repent. His preaching was not academic. He told the king that he had no right to be living with his brother Philip's wife. He was killed for his trouble.

Jesus began to preach where John left off: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With few exceptions the teaching of Christ to the people of His day was that though they obeyed outward forms, their heart was not right before God. Jesus died according to the purpose of God that He might provide salvation for all mankind. God had required the obedience of man always. While the law of the New Testament has greater grace than anything that went before, it does not alter the fact that man must obey. Let us notice a few Scriptures that show this: “He that believeth in the son hath eternal life, but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36), “And having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).

God knew the heart of man and He knew that, despite the warnings, man would still rebel against God's law. We quote two Scriptures of a number that might be quoted to show how true this is. “I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30). God did not intend that man should go this way for Paul adds: “Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one of you night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). Then we read: “But there arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them and bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (II Peter 2:1). This apostasy would not be a minor thing, for Peter adds: “And many shall follow their lascivious doing, by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of” (II Peter 2:2). This rebellion is still so prevalent in our day that there are those who say there is no such thing as truth.

The events of 6000 years serve to tell us that disobedience to the law of God is folly. Listen as God warns us: “And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose sentence now from of old lingereth not and their destruction slumbereth not” (II Peter 2:3).

Paul warned that “... the mystery of lawlessness doth already work” (II Thess. 2:7). A perusal of history shows how true these predictions were. However, we can be glad that despite sword and flame the voice of restoration was never entirely dead. The story of these attempts has been told many times and we can thank God that in the last part of the 18th Century and the beginning of the 19th Century many different people urged a return to the way of God as revealed in the New Testament. Such a movement could only please God and confound the forces of Satan. Such slogans as “We speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent where the Bible is silent,” were echoed across the land. We would call “Bible things by Bible names.” We would be “Christians only and only Christians.” Tens of thousands responded with enthusiasm to this effort.

However, it would seem that many were not and are not willing to have a complete return to New Testament Christianity and because of infirmities of the flesh the effort must always go on. Paul says “I have not yet attained.” Let us realize that we must go on toward the goal unto the measure of the stature of Christ. How could our goal be better stated than in the language of the Holy Spirit? “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17,18). Surely we must all say that we have not attained but let us press on.

J. C. Bailey, 1982, Dauphin, Manitoba

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

ARE MAN'S OPINIONS IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S VIEW? by steve finnell

 

 http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/02/are-mans-opinions-in-harmony-with-gods.html

 

ARE MAN'S OPINIONS IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S VIEW?  by steve finnell

Man's Opinion: God approves of drinking red wine.

God's View: Proverbs 23:31-33 Do not look on the wine when it red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's Opinion: Mothers have the right to kill their unborn children.

God's View: Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, "You shall not murder.........(NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's opinion: Men have the choice to marry other men and women have the right to marry other women.

God's View: Romans 1:18-32.....26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful,  and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due............ 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death....... (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's Opinion: Water baptism is not essential in order to be saved.

God's View: Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)
Acts 22:16 'And now why are waiting? Arise  and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'(NKJV) John 3:5 Jesus answered and said  to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

God's view is correct 100% of the time! 

A Note To A Dying Friend by Jim McGuiggan

                                        http://theabidingword.com/logos/index.html

A Note To A Dying Friend

D: You know of course, that I’m sorry to hear of further severe health complications, But my feelings, however deep and genuine, don’t cure your disease or take away the pain you do now and will endure until you leave. That sounds glib. Trust me, that isn’t how it feels and you must know that by now. I suppose it’s, what?—a bit of sad realism?

But your note still has a realism that doesn’t have the tone of despair. It sounds a bit like someone getting ready to face something she’d rather not face but has buckled on her armor to go do it just the same. I call that gallantry. But you have reason to be gallant. Your young Lord was (and continues) like that and you have done & are doing the best you can to be like Him.

In this phase of human living and in this ‘world’—the one we the human family built— for you, me and EVERYONE else, Death trumps all. That’s what Jesus had in mind when He says in John 6 that “the flesh profits nothing” and “working for the food that perishes” is a blunder; we’re not to make that the center of our goals.

Moses fed them bread, they ate and lived but then died. Jesus fed them bread, they ate it, lived but are now dead.  Here and now with all its limits of one kind or another life ends in DEATH.  And it doesn’t matter whether we’re currently healthy or not. Those that survive the C-virus will die later. Glib? No at all! But, depending on whose figures you use, something like 2 and a half million people die yearly in the USA. And these have nothing to do with the current C-virus issue.

Yesterday my friend Ray and I had a lengthy Bible study.  He’s past 90, bright as a button, survived WWII, but he’ll die soon. Death finally comes. It happened to Jesus and He said it would. It’s what we do in this ‘world’ we built. If it isn’t disease, old age or starvation or murder it’s of something else. Jesus said, “Watch for Me! My glory follows dying.” (See Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11 and elsewhere.)

For those of us who will not!!! have anything to with or for God, DEATH is what we earn; it’s our “wages” (see Romans 6.23). If alienation from God is what we choose, it’s Death we choose and it is a forever death we get—it’s the everlasting loss of LIFE.

For those in Christ DEATH is a door to glory. In John 6:50; 8:51; 11:25-26, and elsewhere, Jesus says those who believe in Him don’t DIE.  Of course He knows they die because He says “I will raise them up in the last day” (6:40, 54). But He means they don’t die the same kind of death that is the wages of Sin. For those in Christ, those who trust in Him and NOT themselves, sins are not written down against them [Rom 4:4-8] so their death is not a ‘Sin-death’. It’s the prelude to LIFE.

There are two ‘worlds’ to live in. This one with all its creaturely limitations, this one that’s sustained by food and other fleshly (human) necessities. To spend our lives trying to stay in this ‘world’ is to toil to keep what perishes (see John 6:26-27).  To “save our life” while rejecting the LIFE God is eager to give us means we lose ourselves (Mark 8:35-37).

So, should we despise this life, trash it so we can get a better one? God in Jesus Christ became one of us—to despise life now and the potential for lives of love within our limits would be nonsense and cowardly. That there are those who suffer so severely that they wish for death is no surprise. We’re humans for pity’s sake.

Our death is unavoidable—Christian or non-Christian. To those who have by faith made His death and resurrection theirs, that is, for those who BY TRUST embrace their destiny in CHRIST’S experience. For them the last word is not DEATH but resurrection to immortality and ceaseless joy and adventure and freedom from ALL that brings sorrow and loss, within us and around us.

When those who came to know Jesus stepped into the water of Baptism they were saying I embrace His death as mine and when rising out of the water they were saying I embrace His resurrection as mine (see Romans 6:3-6). We can’t finally avoid biological death but we can avoid everlasting cessation of existence and so the everlasting loss of EVERLASTING LIFE

If you slip away before me, D, I’ll know where to find you. Where my Ethel and many of my beloved ones are waiting for me and others.

jim

Salvation Principles and Relevant Commands by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2176

Salvation Principles and Relevant Commands

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

We can learn much in Scripture about how to please the Creator. God has not left man to wonder aimlessly through life, never knowing what he must do to be saved. Instead, Scripture repeatedly records how different people at different times in history were saved from their sins. From these accounts one can glean important principles of salvation. What’s more, the Bible includes specific commands so that sinners can know precisely what to do to be saved. It is the Bible student’s responsibility, however, to distinguish between the application of salvation principles and the necessary obedience to specific, relevant commands, which must be followed in order to receive salvation.

Essential to the salvation of all men is God’s grace. Without it, we would have “no hope” of being saved (Ephesians 2:12). Jesus taught this principle in parables (cf. Matthew 18:27; Luke 15:20-23), while Paul specifically reminded Christians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His [God’s] mercy” (Titus 3:5).

Another scriptural salvation principle is that God saves only those who understand they are lost. The Lord did not “put away” King David’s sin until he confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), the tax collector, rather than the self-righteous Pharisee, ultimately “went down to his house justified” (vs. 14), because he “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (vs. 13). The tax collector recognized his lost state and humbly appealed to the only One Who could save Him—God. The penitent thief on the cross provides another noble example of one who owned up to his sinful ways and turned to God for help (Luke 23:40-43). The thief admitted that the brutal crucifixion was his just and “due reward,” while professing that “this Man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong” (vs. 41). He then appealed to Christ for salvation, saying, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (vs. 42).

Can Bible students learn principles of salvation from King David’s repentance, the tax collector’s humility, and the thief’s sincere appeal to Christ? Most certainly. However, one must be careful not to confuse learning principles of salvation with learning the specific things non-Christians must do today in order to receive the gift of salvation.

An immigrant who aspires to become a law-abiding, American citizen can learn a great deal by studying the lives of 19th century immigrants. Understanding the obstacles they went through to get to America and eventually become legal U.S. citizens can inspire 21st century immigrants to do the same. One can learn about the need for patience, persistence, and perseverance. Yet, for a 21st century immigrant to become a U.S. citizen, he must familiarize himself with the current laws of naturalization, and then obey those laws. Knowledge of 19th century citizenship laws may help in the naturalization process, but ultimately, a person living today must abide by 21st century rules and regulations.

Similarly, Bible students can learn a great deal from the humble, contrite, determined individuals who lived prior to Jesus’ death on the cross. Christians do themselves a disservice if they fail to consider David’s contrite heart (read Psalm 51), the rich young ruler’s proper question (“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”—Mark 10:17), and the thief’s sincere plea to Christ for salvation (Luke 23:42; cf. Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Throughout Scripture we can glean godly principles relating to man’s salvation. Bible students, however, must not confuse the application of biblical principles with the obedience to relevant commands. All people living this side of the cross of Christ are saved under a different law than that under which David, the thief on the cross, the rich young ruler, and even Jesus lived. God’s New Testament came into effect after Christ’s death, and this testament reveals the explicit instructions that non-Christians must obey in order to become Christians. “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Hebrews 9:16-17, emp. added).

After Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection, He and His apostles taught that non-Christians come into a right relationship with God only after they confess faith in Christ (Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10), repent of their sins (Acts 2:38; 3:18), and are immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). These are specific prerequisites for receiving salvation. They must be followed by all of those who live on this side of the cross of Christ (cf. Colossians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

Appealing to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), the paralytic of Galilee (Matthew 9:1-7), or the sinful woman whom Jesus forgave (Luke 7:36-50) in order to learn specifically what God wants non-Christians today to do to be saved, is to wrongly divide the word of truth. A person is “rightly dividing” (NKJV) or “handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB) when he understands that the relevant commands for salvation are found after Jesus’ death. Making the distinction between learning from the righteous ways of those before the cross (cf. Romans 15:4) and obeying the specific commands given after the cross, is vital to a proper understanding of God’s will and a right relationship with Him.

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

 

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=4200

 

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Cartoons have done much to influence the idea that many people have of Satan. The picture of a red, demon-like character with small horns protruding from his head, an arrow-head pointed tail, and a pitchfork in his hand comes to the minds of many when they hear the words devil, Satan, or hell. In fact, many of the cartoons that depict Satan with such images also show him sitting as a king in hell, determining where each person will go and the punishments meted out to those who are lost eternally. This picture could not be further from the truth. And it is because of this errant view that many—maybe even a majority—of those who read Matthew 10:28 misunderstand what Jesus meant.

In the context of Matthew 10, Jesus warned His followers that wicked men would persecute them unjustly. As He sent them out to preach, He admonished them to boldly speak the truth without fearing the repercussions. In the course of His forewarning, He said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28; cf. Luke 12:4-5). Many Bible students who have read this verse have incorrectly assumed that Jesus was saying that Satan has the power to destroy the soul and body in hell. They have mistakenly attributed to Satan power that he never has had.

Satan is not the ruler of hell, and he does not have the power or ability to cast or drag anyone into hell. In fact, when we read about Satan’s ultimate end, we see that God is the Being who will cast Satan, also called the devil, into the “lake of fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:2,10). Furthermore, the apostle Paul explained to the Christians in Rome that no “angels nor principalities nor powers” could separate them from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38-39). Those in Rome could choose to reject God of their own free will, but no power in existence, including Satan, could pluck them from God’s hand and cast them into hell.

In truth, God will cast Satan into hell at the end of time in the same way that He will cast all those who have lived unrighteously and rejected Him (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15). There is no indication in the Bible that suggests that Satan will be “in charge” of hell anymore than any other unfaithful creature of God. He will find no delight in his eternal second death, and he will not enjoy any type of authority or special privileges there. Jesus’ admonition to fear the one who can cast both the soul and the body into hell was designed to encourage His followers to rely on God, be strong in the face of persecution, and trust that as long as they are right with God, no force in the spiritual world has the power to harm them.

Satan, Job, and a False Implication by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

 

 http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1889

Satan, Job, and a False Implication

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The Bible describes Satan as the accuser of the righteous, who has accused them before God day and night (Revelation 12:10). In one of the most vivid scenes portraying Satan’s accusatory nature, the patient patriarch Job bore the brunt of Satan’s slander. The sons of God had come to present themselves before God, and Satan came also. God asked Satan if he had considered Job, a righteous man who hated sin. In answer to God’s question, Satan retorted: “You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:10-11).

Satan’s comments seem fairly easy to understand—God had blessed Job with physical and financial blessing and it was due to those blessings that Job served God. But, if one is not careful, he or she will miss one of Satan’s false implications embedded in the statement. Satan subtly implied that it is easier for a man to serve God if he is rich and his possessions are increased, than it is for him to serve God if he is poor. Unfortunately, this idea has been maintained by many in the past and the present. In truth, however, Satan’s implication is false. It has never been easier to follow God if a person is financially wealthy. On the contrary, wealth often has great potential to have a negative effective on a man’s relationship with God.

First century listeners to Jesus were quite shocked to hear that such was the case. After the sad refusal of the rich young ruler to sell his possessions, Christ made some startling comments. He said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). When Christ made this statement, His hearers “were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (vs. 26). Jesus explained that it was possible for such to happen, but it was not easy.

In Job’s case, Satan had done everything he could to tempt him with riches and physical wealth. God allowed Job’s wealth to accumulate and Job proved he could do what few have done—serve God faithfully as a rich man. Satan’s attempt to lure Job into sin with riches had failed, and he realized that the man’s soul was not for sale.

The idea that riches and physical blessings make serving God easier is a false notion and Satan knew it. So did God. And so should we. Let us all “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Death Of John The Baptist (14:1-12) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

The Death Of John The Baptist (14:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. A sad story in the Bible is that of "The Death Of John The Baptist"
   a. His imprisonment occurred near the beginning of Jesus' ministry - Mt 4:12
   b. Some time later, John sent two of his disciples to Jesus - Mt 11: 1-3
   c. Eventually he was beheaded by Herod - Mt 14:1-12

2. The sadness of the story, though, is tempered by the contrast
   between John and those responsible for his death...
   a. A remarkable contrast between a godly man and a depraved family
   b. A contrast that certainly provides several object lessons,
      encouraging godly living

3. In this study, we shall review what is said about "The Death Of John
   The Baptist"...
   a. Noticing the four key persons in this narrative
   b. Considering a few lessons and points that might be gleaned from this passage

[We begin with...]

I. THE FAITHFULNESS OF JOHN

   A. JOHN PROVED TO BE A FAITHFUL PROPHET...
      1. His message was a call to repentance - Mt 3:1-2
      2. He called the religious leaders to repentance as well - Mt 3:7-8
      3. Nor did he back away from pointing out the sins of the king- Mt 14:3-4
         a. Herod had married his brother Philip's wife, Herodias
         b. It was an unlawful marriage, for several reasons:
            1) Philip was still living, making it adultery - Ro 7:1-3
            2) She was Herod's niece, making it incest  
            3) The Law prohibited marrying a brother's wife - Lev 18:16; 20:21
      4. Rather than change his message to accommodate the king, John
         was willing to go to prison and ultimately die for the Word of God!

   B. HIS FAITHFULNESS SHOULD INSPIRE US TODAY...
      1. To be true to God's Word, even when not politically correct
      2. To proclaim God's law on marriage, even if it angers others
         a. God's law on marriage goes all the way back to the creation - Mt 19:4-8
         b. Christ defined the one circumstance when one may divorce
            and remarry - Mt 19:9
         c. Therefore not all marriages are "lawful"; there may be 
            times when we must tell one:  "It is not lawful for you to
            have her" - Mt 14:4
            
[The faithfulness of this godly man stands out, especially when 
contrasted with the members of the ungodly family we now consider.  
Beginning with...]

II. THE SHAMELESSNESS OF SALOME

   A. SALOME WAS A GIRL WITH NO SHAME...
      1. Of course, she was the daughter of a shameless woman - Mt 14:6
      2. From the Greek, Robertson describes her dance as "some kind of
         rapid motion...a shameful exhibition of lewd dancing"
         (Robertson's Word Pictures)
      3. She danced this way, not just before Herod, but his guests as
         well - Mk 6:21-22

   B. HER SHAMELESSNESS IS OFTEN REPEATED TODAY...
      1. Much modern dance is similar to the lewdness of Salome's dancing
         a. Designed to arouse fleshly passions
         b. "Because of its physical appeal, dance lends itself to 
            erotic purposes and has been practiced to these ends by 
            both sexes." - Encyclopedia Britannica, "The Art Of Dance"
      2. Such shamelessness is condemned as lewdness (lasciviousness,licentiousness)
         a. The Greek word for "lewdness" (aselgia) is "unbridled lust
            ...wanton acts or manners (including) filthy words,
            indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males 

            and females" (Thayer)
         b. Condemned as a work of the flesh - cf. Ga 5:19-21
      3. Christians (esp. women) are to possess a sense of
         "shamefacedness" - 1Ti 2:9 (KJV)
         a. That is, a sense of propriety (NKJV), that which is proper
         b. The Greek word (aidos) means "a sense of shame, modesty" (Vine)
         c. "Aidos would always restrain a good man from an unworthy
            act..." (Trench)

[The shamelessness of Salome contributed to the death of John the 
Baptist.  Similar lack of propriety among men and women leads to much 
trouble today as well.  Of course, this young girl was undoubtedly 
influenced by her mother...]

III. THE VENGEFULNESS OF HERODIAS

   A. HERODIAS WAS A VENGEFUL WOMAN...
      1. She was the subject of John's rebuke to Herod - Mt 14:3-4
         a. She had been married to Philip, Herod Antipas' half-brother
         b. Herod had been married to the daughter of Aretas, an 
            Arabian king of Petraea
         c. After Herod had been a guest in Philip's home, he and
            Herodias eloped while still married to their spouses
         d. At some point they married, for which John rebuked them - Mk 6:17-18
      2. In her vengefulness...
         a. She prompted Herod to imprison John - Mk 6:17-18
         a. She wanted to kill John, though temporarily prevented from
            doing so - Mk 6:19
         b. She prompted her daughter to ask for John's head on a platter - Mk 6:22-25
   
   B. SUCH VENGEFULNESS OFTEN DESTROYS LIVES TODAY...
      1. Through vengeance people often resort to desperate measures
         a. E.g., Simeon and Levi, whose vengeance killed those of
            Shechem - Gen 34:1-31
         b. It moved Joab to kill Abner, an honorable man - 2Sa 3:27;1Ki 2:29-33
      2. Vengeance led to the downfall of such people as:
         a. Haman, who tried to kill Mordecai and the Jews - Esther 3-7
         b. The Edomites and the Philistines, who took vengeance on Judah - Eze 25:12-17
      3. Vengeance destroys families, friends, associates; hurting most
         those who exercise it
      4. Which is why we are commanded to leave vengeance to God - Pro
         24:29; Ro 12:17-19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9
   
[Finally, we consider the king who was manipulated like a pawn, as we look at...]

IV. THE WEAKNESS OF HEROD

   A. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS A WEAK MAN...
      1. Son of Herod the Great, we see his weakness manifested by:
         a. His superstition, supposing Jesus to be John raised from the dead - Mt 14:1-2
         b. His unfaithfulness, in leaving his first wife and marrying Herodias - Mt 14:3-4
         c. His fear of the multitude and John himself, which prevented
            Herod from killing him at first - Mt 14:5; Mk 6:20
         d. His manipulation by Salome and Herodias - Mt 14:6-8
         e. His fear of his guests, before whom he was afraid of ridicule - Mt 14:9
      2. His weakness eventually led to his death
         a. For Herodias later prompted him to join her in appealing
            for favors from Caesar
         b. But they were accused of high treason and banished to Lyons
            in Gaul, where he died in great misery (Josephus, 
            Antiquities Of The Jews)

   B. SUCH MORAL WEAKNESS CAN BE A PROBLEM TODAY...
      1. We can be destroyed by weakness through:
         a. Succumbing to temptation
         b. Allowing others to pressure us in doing evil - 1Co 15:33
      2. Christians need to stand strong...
         a. Cf. The example of young men as Joseph and Daniel - Gen 39:
            1-12; Dan 1:8
         b. Looking to God for help and strength - 1Co 10:13; Ep 3:16; Php 4:13
         c. Seeking the approval of God, not men - Ga 1:10

CONCLUSION

1. In "The Death Of John The Baptist", it initially appears that evil
   was the winner...
   a. Herod succeeded in imprisoning and killing John
   b. Herod and Salome succeeded in manipulating Herod and getting rid of John

2. There are times today when it seems that evil people are the ones
   who win in life...
   a. People who blatantly disregard God's law on divorce and remarriage
   b. Young people who gain popularity through shameless conduct

3. But as revealed by the Psalmist (Ps 73:1-28), such apparent success is fleeting...
   a. God will eventually bring the wicked into judgment
   b. Sometimes judgment is received even in this life, as with the 
      exile of Herod and Herodias    
   c. Whose shoes would you want to be in now?  Herod's? Herodias'? Salome's?

May the faithfulness of John remind us that serving God is the only way
to eternal life and true happiness...! 

 Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

I wonder... by Gary Rose

I slept in today and I enjoyed every minute of it. Sleeping late is one of the perks of being retired. People call the later years in one’s life “The Golden Years”, but I think that calling them “The Wonder Years” is far better. Truth is: I do forget things – more than I would like to admit. But, that’s OK – its just part of my “New Normal” and I just have to accept it and get on with whatever is next.

And I have wondered about “What is Next” too, for quite a number of people I have known throughout my life are no longer living. Questions like: “How will I die”? and “Will I linger on in pain and disability for a long time”? Are unpleasant to think about, but normal questions for someone in their 70’s.

All these things are important, for whether we like it or not, everyone of us will die “someday”. Now, during my working years, I tried to something away for retirement and I was only marginally successful, but I have enough to get by and for that I am very thankful. But, what happens after I die? Will my estate be enough for my wife to live on? Will my last wishes be fulfilled? More important than all these things- what will happen to me? The following chart will answer this…

In short, I believe I have obeyed the Gospel correctly and have done my best to live as a Christian should. I would have liked to have been a “perfect Christian”, but I have fallen far short of that, but I thank God for HIS GRACE and trust that someday I will live eternally.

Question: what about you? Study the chart! Which half applies to you; the top half of it or the bottom? If its the bottom, I pray that you will do something about it right now, before its too late!

Jesus says…

Matthew 7 ( World English Bible )

21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. "

22 "Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ "

23 "Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’"

24 "“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. "

25 "The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. "

26 "Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. "

27 "The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”"

It is not enough to just be religious, one has to obey the Gospel of Jesus and live faithfully. These things lead us back to the chart and I wonder –

Will you study, obey and live???

Bible Reading for August 5 and 6 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading for August 5 and 6

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. 6

Ezra 7-8

Ezr 7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Ezr 7:2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

Ezr 7:3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

Ezr 7:4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

Ezr 7:5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;

Ezr 7:6 this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.

Ezr 7:7 There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Ezr 7:8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

Ezr 7:9 For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.

Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:

Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.

Ezr 7:14 Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

Ezr 7:15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

Ezr 7:16 and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;

Ezr 7:17 therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:18 Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.

Ezr 7:19 The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:20 Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

Ezr 7:21 I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,

Ezr 7:22 to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

Ezr 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Ezr 7:24 Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.

Ezr 7:25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them.

Ezr 7:26 Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Ezr 7:27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;

Ezr 7:28 and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezr 8:1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

Ezr 8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

Ezr 8:3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.

Ezr 8:4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.

Ezr 8:5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.

Ezr 8:6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.

Ezr 8:7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

Ezr 8:8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.

Ezr 8:9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

Ezr 8:10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.

Ezr 8:11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

Ezr 8:12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.

Ezr 8:13 Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.

Ezr 8:14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

Ezr 8:15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

Ezr 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.

Ezr 8:17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

Ezr 8:18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;

Ezr 8:19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;

Ezr 8:20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.

Ezr 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Ezr 8:22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.

Ezr 8:23 So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

Ezr 8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,

Ezr 8:25 and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:

Ezr 8:26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;

Ezr 8:27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.

Ezr 8:28 I said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.

Ezr 8:29 Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.

Ezr 8:30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

Ezr 8:31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.

Ezr 8:32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

Ezr 8:33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;

Ezr 8:34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.

Ezr 8:35 The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.

Ezr 8:36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

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,