From: "FamilyNet Direct"
Bible Reading for November 12
Acts 6
[1] And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there
arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows
were neglected in the daily ministration. [2] Then the twelve called the
multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we
should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
[3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4]
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
[5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man
full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor,
and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: [6] Whom they set
before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7] And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied
in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the
faith.
[8] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among
the people.
[9] Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue
of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and
of Asia, disputing with Stephen. [10] And they were not able to resist the
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
[11] Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous
words against Moses, and against God. [12] And they stirred up the people, and
the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought
him to the council, [13] And set up false witnesses, which said, This man
ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
[14] For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this
place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. [15] And all
that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had
been the face of an angel.
Acts 7
[1] Then said the high priest, Are these things so? [2] And he said, Men,
brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father
Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
[3] And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and
come into the land which I shall shew thee. [4] Then came he out of the land
of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was
dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
[5] And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot
on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his
seed after him, when as yet he had no child. [6] And God spake on this wise,
That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring
them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
[7] And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God:
and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. [8] And he
gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and
circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the
twelve patriarchs.
[9] And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was
with him,
[10] And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and
wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over
Egypt and all his house.
[11] Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great
affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. [12] But when Jacob heard
that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
[13] And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and
Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. [14] Then sent Joseph, and
called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen
souls. [15] So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, [16]
And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham
bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. [17] But
when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the
people grew and multiplied in Egypt, [18] Till another king arose, which knew
not Joseph. [19] The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated
our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might
not live.
[20] In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in
his father's house three months: [21] And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's
daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
[22] And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty
in words and in deeds.
[23] And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his
brethren the children of Israel. [24] And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he
defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: [25]
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand
would deliver them: but they understood not. [26] And the next day he shewed
himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again,
saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
[27] But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made
thee a ruler and a judge over us?
[28] Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? [29] Then fled
Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat
two sons.
[30] And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the
wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
[31] When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to
behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, [32] Saying, I am the God of
thy fathers, the God of Abrham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. [33] Then said the Lord to him, Put
off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
[34] I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt,
and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now
come, I will send thee into Egypt.
[35] This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge?
the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel
which appeared to him in the bush. [36] He brought them out, after that he had
shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the
wilderness forty years. [37] This is that Moses, which said unto the children
of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your
brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
[38] This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which
spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively
oracles to give unto us:
[39] To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in
their hearts turned back again into Egypt, [40] Saying unto Aaron, Make us
gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land
of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [41] And they made a calf in those
days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their
own hands. [42] Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of
heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel,
have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years
in the wilderness?
[43] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god
Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away
beyond Babylon.
[44] Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had
appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the
fashion that he had seen.
[45] Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the
possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers,
unto the days of David;
[46] Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God
of Jacob.
[47] But Solomon built him an house. [48] Howbeit the most High dwelleth not
in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
[49] Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build
me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? [50] Hath not my hand
made all these things? [51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52]
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain
them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been
now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the
disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
[54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed on him with their teeth.
[55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven,
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56]
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God.
[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran
upon him with one accord,
[58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down
their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. [59] And they stoned
Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
[60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8
[1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the
apostles.
[2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation
over him.
[3] As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and
haling men and women committed them to prison. [4] Therefore they that were
scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
[5] Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto
them.
[6] And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. [7] For unclean spirits,
crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and
many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
[8] And there was great joy in that city. [9] But there was a certain man,
called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched
the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
[10] To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This
man is the great power of God. [11] And to him they had regard, because that
of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
[12] But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
[13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued
with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
[14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when
they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
[16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.)
[17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
[18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power,
that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
[20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. [21] Thou hast
neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight
of God.
[22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. [23] For I perceive that thou art
in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
[24] Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of
these things which ye have spoken come upon me. [25] And they, when they had
testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and
preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
[26] And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward
the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert.
[27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great
authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her
treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, [28] Was returning, and
sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. [29] Then the Spirit said unto
Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and
said, Understandest thou what thou readest? [31] And he said, How can I,
except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up
and sit with him. [32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He
was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer,
so opened he not his mouth:
[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his
generation? for his life is taken from the earth. [34] And the eunuch answered
Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself,
or of some other man? [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
[36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And
Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [38] And he
commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the
eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
[40] But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all
the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9
[1] And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, [2] And desired of him
letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven: [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a
voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [6] And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the
Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee
what thou must do.
[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice,
but seeing no man.
[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no
man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. [9] And he
was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. [10] And there
was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in
a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. [11] And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and
inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he
prayeth,
[12] And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his
hand on him, that he might receive his sight. [13] Then Ananias answered,
Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy
saints at Jerusalem: [14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to
bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto
me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee
in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight,
and be filled with the Holy Ghost. [18] And immediately there fell from his
eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and
was baptized. [19] And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then
was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. [20] And
straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
[21] But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that
destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for
that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? [22] But
Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. [23] And after that many days were
fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
[24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day
and night to kill him.
[25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a
basket.
[26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the
disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a
disciple.
[27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto
them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and
how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. [28] And he was
with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. [29] And he spake boldly in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went
about to slay him. [30] Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to
Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
[31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of
the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. [32] And it came to pass, as Peter passed
throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
[33] And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed
eight years, and was sick of the palsy. [34] And Peter said unto him, Aeneas,
Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose
immediately. [35] And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to
the Lord. [36] Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which
by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and
almsdeeds which she did.
[37] And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when
they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. [38] And forasmuch as
Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there,
they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to
them.
[39] Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him
into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing
the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. [40] But
Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the
body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter,
she sat up.
[41] And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the
saints and widows, presented her alive. [42] And it was known throughout all
Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. [43] And it came to pass, that he
tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
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