Daily Readings for October 28

Daily Readings for October 28
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2Chronicles 25

1.Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. 2.He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, but not with a perfect heart. 3.Now it happened, when the kingdom was established to him, that he killed his servants who had killed the king his father. 4.But he didn't put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin." 5.Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them according to their fathers' houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward, and found them three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6.He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7.A man of God came to him, saying, "O king, don't let the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel, with all the children of Ephraim. 8.But if you will go, take action, be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow."

9.Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?"

The man of God answered, "Yahweh is able to give you much more than this."

10.Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger. 11.Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir. 12.The children of Judah carry away ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces. 13.But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand, and took much spoil. 14.Now it happened, after that Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them. 15.Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?"

16.It happened, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, "Have we made you one of the king's counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?"

Then the prophet stopped, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel."

17.Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face."

18.Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as his wife; then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. 19.You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?'"

20.But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom. 21.So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22.Judah was defeated by Israel; and they fled every man to his tent. 23.Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24.He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 25.Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 26.Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren't they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27.Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there. 28.They brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

Daniel 6

1.It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2.and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage. 3.Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4.Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5.Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6.Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever. 7.All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8.Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. 9.Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10.When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 11.Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12.Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Haven't you signed an decree, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. 13.Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. 14.Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. 15.Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. 16.Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. 17.A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18.Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. 19.Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 20.When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions? 21.Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. 22.My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt. 23.Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24.The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den. 25.Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26.I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end. 27.He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28.So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Acts 5

1.But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2.and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3.But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4.While you kept it, didn't it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn't it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven't lied to men, but to God."

5.Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6.The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7.About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8.Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much."

She said, "Yes, for so much."

9.But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

10.She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11.Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. 12.By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13.None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. 14.More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15.They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16.Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

17.But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 18.and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody. 19.But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, 20."Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."

21.When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22.But the officers who came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23."We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"

24.Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25.One came and told them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people." 26.Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

27.When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28.saying, "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."

29.But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30.The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31.God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32.We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

33.But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. 34.But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35.He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36.For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 37.After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38.Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39.But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!"

40.They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41.They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.

42.Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

Acts 6

1.Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists¹⁶ against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2.The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3.Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4.But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word."

5.These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6.whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7.The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8.Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9.But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10.They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11.Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12.They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, 13.and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14.For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." 15.All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.