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Daily Readings for November 8
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Ezra 1
1.Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh1 by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2."Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the God2 of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3.Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. 4.Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.'"
5.Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up rose up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem. 6.All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. 7.Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahweh, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods; 8.even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9.This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives, 10.thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels one thousand. 11.All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up, when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2
1.Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city; 2.who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3.The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. 4.The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two. 5.The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five. 6.The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. 7.The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 8.The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five. 9.The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 10.The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two. 11.The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three. 12.The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two. 13.The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six. 14.The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six. 15.The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four. 16.The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. 17.The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. 18.The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve. 19.The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three. 20.The children of Gibbar, ninety-five. 21.The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three. 22.The men of Netophah, fifty-six. 23.The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight. 24.The children of Azmaveth, forty-two. 25.The children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three. 26.The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. 27.The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. 28.The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three. 29.The children of Nebo, fifty-two. 30.The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six. 31.The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 32.The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 33.The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. 34.The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. 35.The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty. 36.The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. 37.The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. 38.The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. 39.The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. 40.The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four. 41.The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. 42.The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine. 43.The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44.the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45.the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46.the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan, 47.the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48.the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49.the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50.the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, 51.the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52.the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53.the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 54.the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55.The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda, 56.the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57.the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami. 58.All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. 59.These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: 60.the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two. 61.Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 62.These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. 63.The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. 64.The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 65.besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women. 66.Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 67.their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. 68.Some of the heads of fathers' households, when they came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place: 69.they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. 70.So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Hosea 5
1."Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor. 2.The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I discipline all of them. 3.I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled. 4.Their deeds won't allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don't know Yahweh. 5.The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them. 6.They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they won't find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. 7.They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.
8."Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin! 9.Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be. 10.The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water. 11.Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols. 12.Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
13."When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound. 14.For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver. 15.I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly."
Acts 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. 2.Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. 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. 4.Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 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. 6.After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
7.When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. 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. 9.Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10.As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.'"
12.When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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."
14.When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Lord's will be done."
15.After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 16.Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.
17.When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18.The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. 19.When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. 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. 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. 22.What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23.Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. 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. 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."
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. 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, 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!" 29.For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
35.When he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 36.for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!" 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? 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?"
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."
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,
Acts 22
1."Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."
2.When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, 3."I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. 4.I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5.As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 6.It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me. 7.I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8.I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'
9."Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me. 10.I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11.When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12.One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, 13.came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him. 14.He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15.For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16.Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
17."It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 18.and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.' 19.I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. 20.When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'
21."He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'"
22.They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn't fit to live!"
23.As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air, 24.the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that. 25.When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"
26.When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, "Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!"
27.The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?"
He said, "Yes."
28.The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship for a great price."
Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."
29.Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him. 30.But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.