Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Up early this morning, had to get Dear Wife off to the trek across the back yard to "watch" the great-niece. She needed to be over there by 07:00, which meant up and showered and dressed and fed and off. Then I had to water the garden(s) we have: niece has one, we have a smaller one. We had been promised, warned even, of a big storm that would have its Phase One arrive around 8 p.m. last night. Never did. Then Phase Two, which was pushed back from 10 p.m. to 11 to midnight to 01:00. So far as I can tell, it never did arrive. I had planned to water the plants but if the rain came, saves the trouble. Didn't happen, so I had to. Beans OK, one tomato plant has a bunch of pea-sized baby tomatoes beginning, and one pepper plant has a baby pepper. They can't recall what that plant is, but what we see developing is green. May or may not be one that turns red. Anyway, the potatoes are not showing a all. Zucchini is ok. We have half a dozen cucumber plants showing life, though I'd planted twice that many seeds. And three of the dill, though I'd planted about a dozen. We shall see, I guess.
Went to the Big Box store this morning, needed dry cat food and some heartburn over-the-counter stuff. Went by the ATM and got the cash out that we pay to rent this place from niece, a good deal for both, actually. Back home, did some stuff around here. Started load of laundry, had some non-cooperation from the washing machine, so THAT might become the Next Big Problem. It just never ends.
And then got a reminder call of a doctor appointment in the morning, one we'd forgotten. We had to tell them to cancel and we'll call later to reschedule. Fact is, we don't have the funds for the co-pay. (thanks for nothing, Obamacare).
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The Old Testament passage today is chapters 1, 2, and 3 from the book of Esther. Esther, sometimes called Hadassah, is one of those unlikely people who turns out to be the right person in the right place at the right time. You couldn't choreograph that, it wouldn't pass the editor's pen in a mystery novel. Except that it's true and through her, the Lord did something marvelous. And the Jews celebrate that memory every year, at Purim That celebration took place beginning the evening of March 23 and ended the evening of March 24, 2016. It's a good thing to remember these great things that the Lord has done.
The Persian king reference here is generally considered to be identical to Xerxes. The capitol city in which this takes place is considred to be the same as modern-day Shush, in western Iran, or adjacent to it. The river Karkeh runs beside it, on its way to the Persian Gufl.
1
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Now
it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which
reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and
twenty provinces:)
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2
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That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
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3
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In
the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and
his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of
the provinces, being before him:
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4
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When
he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his
excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
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5
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And
when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people
that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small,
seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
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6
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Where
were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine
linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of
gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and
black, marble.
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7
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And
they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one
from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of
the king.
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8
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And
the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king
had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do
according to every man's pleasure.
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9
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Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
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10
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On
the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he
commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and
Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus
the king,
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11
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To
bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew
the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
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12
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But
the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his
chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in
him.
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13
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Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
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14
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And
the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw
the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
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15
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What
shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath
not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
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16
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And
Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath
not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to
all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
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17
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For
this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they
shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported,
The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before
him, but she came not.
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18
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Likewise
shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's
princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there
arise too much contempt and wrath.
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19
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If
it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let
it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be
not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the
king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
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20
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And
when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published
throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give
to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
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21
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And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
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22
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For
he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it
should be published according to the language of every people.
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1
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After
these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he
remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against
her.
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2
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Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
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3
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And
let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that
they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the
palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's
chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification
be given them:
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4
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And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
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5
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Now
in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai,
the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
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6
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Who
had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been
carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king
of Babylon had carried away.
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7
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And
he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she
had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own
daughter.
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8
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So
it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard,
and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to
the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's
house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
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9
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And
the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he
speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as
belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out
of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best
place of the house of the women.
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10
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Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
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11
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And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
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12
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Now
when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that
she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for
so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months
with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other
things for the purifying of the women;)
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13
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Then
thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given
her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
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14
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In
the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second
house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain,
which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except
the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
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15
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Now
when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai,
who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king,
she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper
of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all
them that looked upon her.
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16
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So
Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth
month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
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17
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And
the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and
favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal
crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
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18
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Then
the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even
Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts,
according to the state of the king.
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19
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And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
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20
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Esther
had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged
her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was
brought up with him.
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21
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In
those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's
chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were
wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
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22
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And
the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and
Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
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23
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And
when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore
they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the
chronicles before the king.
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1
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After
these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the
Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that
were with him.
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2
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And
all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and
reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But
Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
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3
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Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
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4
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Now
it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not
unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would
stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
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5
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And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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6
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And
he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed
him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the
Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the
people of Mordecai.
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7
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In
the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king
Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to
day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month
Adar.
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8
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And
Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered
abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy
kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they
the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer
them.
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9
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If
it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I
will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have
the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
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10
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And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
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11
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And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
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12
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Then
were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first
month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded
unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every
province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according
to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the
name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
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13
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And
the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to
destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old,
little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of
them for a prey.
|
14
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The
copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was
published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
|
15
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The
posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the
decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down
to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
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The New Testament reading is verses 1-16 of Acts chapter 5. All was not sweetness and light, not even in the church. Some things haven't changed, have they? But great things were happening, nonetheless.
1
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But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
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2
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And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
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3
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But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
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4
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Whiles
it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in
thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?
thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
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5
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And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
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6
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And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
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7
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And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
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8
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And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
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9
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Then
Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt
the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy
husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
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10
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Then
fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and
the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth,
buried her by her husband.
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11
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And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
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12
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And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among
the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
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13
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And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
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14
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And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
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15
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Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on
beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might
overshadow some of them.
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16
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There
came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem,
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and
they were healed every one.
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