Sunday, June 21, 2015
Revelation 13
Revelation 13 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 13
The Beast out of the Sea
1 The dragon[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?"
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[b]
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10 "If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[c] with the sword, with the sword they will be killed."[d] This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's people.
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666.
Revelation 13
The Beast out of the Sea
1 The dragon[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?"
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[b]
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10 "If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[c] with the sword, with the sword they will be killed."[d] This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's people.
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666.
Acts 27
Acts 27 (New International Version)
Acts 27
Paul Sails for Rome
1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
The Storm
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
The Shipwreck
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Acts 27
Paul Sails for Rome
1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
The Storm
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
The Shipwreck
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Jun 20: India, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam | Operation World
Jun 20: India, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam | Operation World
Click on the link to get more information.
Click on the link to get more information.
Revelation 12
Revelation 12 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."[a] And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."[a] And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Acts 26
Acts 26 (New International Version)
Acts 26
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 "The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15 "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29 Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Acts 26
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 "The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15 "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29 Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Friday, June 19, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 32
Matthew 20; Matthew 21
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who
went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He
agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 "About
the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing
nothing. 4 He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard,
and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5 So they went.
"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the
same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found
still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here
all day long doing nothing?' 7 " 'Because no one has
hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my
vineyard.' 8 "When evening came, the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages,
beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' 9 "The
workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a
denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they
expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When
they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 'These
men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made
them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the
day.' 13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not
being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take
your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave
you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own
money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 "So
the last will be first, and the first will be last." 17 Now
as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said
to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of
Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They
will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the
Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be
raised to life!" 20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons
came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What
is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two
sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your
kingdom." 22 "You don't know what you are
asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to
drink?" "We can," they answered. 23Jesus said to
them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left
is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been
prepared by my Father." 24 When the ten heard about this,
they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called
them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not
so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your
slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 29 As
Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two
blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was
going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The
crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder,
"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus
stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he
asked. 33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our
sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their
eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the
Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them,
"Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied
there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If
anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will
send them right away." 4 This took place to fulfill what
was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of
Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.' " 6 The disciples went and did as
Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the
colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A
very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches
from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that
went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!" 10 When Jesus entered
Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"11 The
crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in
Galilee." 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out
all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It
is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of
prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' " 14 The
blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But
when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he
did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of
David," they were indignant. 16 "Do you hear what
these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus,
"have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you
have ordained praise' ?" 17And he left them and went out of
the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. 18 Early in the
morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing
a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.
Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the
tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were
amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. 21 Jesus
replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not
only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this
mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22 If
you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." 23Jesus
entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and
the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing
these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this
authority?" 24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you
one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing
these things. 25 John's baptism--where did it come from? Was
it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said,
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe
him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the
people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So
they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 "What
do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said,
'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 " 'I will
not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then
the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will,
sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what
his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to
them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are
entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to
you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the
tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not
repent and believe him. 33 "Listen to another parable:
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a
winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some
farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time
approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 "The
tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a
third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the
first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last
of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. 38 "But
when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come,
let's kill him and take his inheritance.' 39 So they took him
and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 "Therefore,
when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those
tenants?" 41 "He will bring those wretches to a
wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other
tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."42 Jesus
said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone
the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it
is marvelous in our eyes' ? 43 "Therefore I tell you that
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will
produce its fruit.44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to
pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 45When the
chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking
about them.46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were
afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Revelation 11
Revelation 11 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Acts 25
Acts 25 (New International Version)
Acts 25
Paul's Trial Before Festus
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there."
6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
8 Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
10 Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
Festus Consults King Agrippa
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16 "I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Paul Before Agrippa
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him."
Acts 25
Paul's Trial Before Festus
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there."
6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
8 Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
10 Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"
12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
Festus Consults King Agrippa
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16 "I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Paul Before Agrippa
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him."
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 31
Matthew 19; Mark 10
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left
Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the
Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them
there. 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked,
"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every
reason?" 4 "Haven't you read," he replied,
"that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and
said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to
his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are
no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not
separate." 7 "Why then," they asked, "did
Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her
away?" 8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to
divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from
the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,
except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits
adultery." 10 The disciples said to him, "If this is
the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to
marry." 11 Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept
this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For
some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by
men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The
one who can accept this should accept it." 13 Then little
children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for
them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus
said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15When he had
placed his hands on them, he went on from there. 16 Now a man
came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get
eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is
good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to
enter life, obey the commandments." 18 "Which
ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not
commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor
your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' " 20 "All
these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still
lack?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be
perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the
young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then
Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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." 25 When the disciples heard
this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be
saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man
this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 27 Peter
answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there
be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the
truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious
throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses
or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake
will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But
many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of
Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his
custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him
by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 "What
did Moses command you?" he replied. 4They said, "Moses
permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her
away." 5 "It was because your hearts were hard that
Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6 "But at
the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For
this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no
longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together,
let man not separate." 10 When they were in the house
again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered,
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery
against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries
another man, she commits adultery." 13 People were
bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples
rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He
said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you
the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child
will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his
arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.17 As Jesus started on
his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good
teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal
life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus
answered. "No one is good--except God alone. 19 You know
the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not
give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'
" 20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have
kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved
him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away
sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and
said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom
of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But
Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of
God! 25 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." 26 The
disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be
saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man
this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with
God." 28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything
to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth,"
Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother
or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will
fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers,
sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the
age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be
last, and the last first." 32 They were on their way up
to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished,
while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told
them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up
to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the
chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will
hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit
on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." 35 Then
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they
said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What
do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied,
"Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your
glory." 38 "You don't know what you are
asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with
the baptism I am baptized with?" 39 "We can,"
they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be
baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at
my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom
they have been prepared." 41 When the ten heard about
this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus
called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise
authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever
wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many." 46 Then they came to Jericho. As
Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a
blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the
roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of
Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on
me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he
shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"49 Jesus
stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man,
"Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing
his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What
do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said,
"Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said
Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight
and followed Jesus along the road.
Acts 24
Acts 24 (New International Version)
Acts 24
Paul's Trial Before Felix
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] [a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Acts 24
Paul's Trial Before Felix
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] [a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 30
Luke 17:11-36; Luke
18:1-14
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the
border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a
village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and
called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When
he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as
they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he
was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He
threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus
asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was
no one found to return and give praise to God except this
foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go;
your faith has made you well." 20 Once, having been asked
by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The
kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor
will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is
within you." 22 Then he said to his disciples, "The
time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but
you will not see it. 23 Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or
'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son
of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the
sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer
many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 "Just
as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of
Man.27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in
marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed
them all. 28 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People
were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But
the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed
them all. 30 "It will be just like this on the day the
Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the
roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise,
no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember
Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on
that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other
left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will
be taken and the other left. " 37 "Where,
LORD?" they asked. He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the
vultures will gather."
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that
they should always pray and not give up.2 He said: "In a
certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about
men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to
him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For
some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear
God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps
bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually
wear me out with her coming!' " 6 And the Lord said,
"Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God
bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will
he keep putting them off ? 8 I tell you, he will see that they
get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find
faith on the earth?" 9 To some who were confident of
their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this
parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood
up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other
men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I
fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But
the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but
beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I
tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself
will be exalted."
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