Well!! This has been an "interesting" week so far, with no dispute.
Yesterday, the alarm went off around dawn. Dear Wife had a doctor appointment for 08:30, an office roughly a 20 minute drive from here (under good conditions). Being one who has, painfully, learned the hazards of presuming upon those good conditions, we left here around 40 minutes before the appointment. We made it early, which was good. That "entitled" us to wait in the waiting room until 10 minutes AFTER our appointment time, at which time we were ushered into an exam room, there to wait another 20+ minutes. Pretty standard, in other words.
So, the "usual", in most regards. Supposed to go back in a couple weeks for some "labs", then back again in a week or so after that for yet another follow-up. We did find ourselves in one of those three-cornered (or four, if you include the patient) deals between three doctors: the family doctor we were meeting, the rheumatologist we were at the week before, and the pulmonologist that we are to meet on the 6th. They're fighting over such things as the prescription for the prednisone that she's been taking daily for more than 32 years, but all doctors are now afraid to prescribe. Hence the source of a large portion of her breathing problems.
Then, back home. I'd intended to spend some time writing this. WRONG!
While, oddly, none of the major news networks and certainly none of the pretty worthless news operations chose to make the matter known (though they very certainly were aware), beginning in the early early hours of the morning, there was a MAJOR breakdown on a MAJOR Internet "backbone", not just in much of the United States, but also very large sections of Europe. Our pretty lousy Spectrum service was essentially down. We could, via the 4G on our phones, get "out" to a very limited extent, which was how we discovered -- via the Spectrum site -- the enormous extent of the issue.
Which, to repeat, NONE of the major news sites were interested in making known. The "techie" sites that Wife and I have wangled access to, were very much aware of it, but since they use the same "pipeline", making that known was difficult.
One of the results of that was that this couldn't be done. So we spent the day in other pursuits, and that has continued until just a little bit ago. Wife is napping in her chair now, getting some rest before going next door to "watch" the great-niece and great nephew while mom is at work and dad isn't home yet. I have the washer and dryer going. So a few minutes respite, namely this, is possible.
And, as a result, I'm a day behind in the posted readings. All deserve close, prayerful attention, in spite of the size of the "document dump", but I don't like skipping them. Not any good alternative.
So .......
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2nd Samuel 15
1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was
so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for
judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou?
And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom
said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man
which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him
justice!
5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And
on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for
judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And
it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I
pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 But
Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon
as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom
reigneth in Hebron.
11 And
with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called;
and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his
city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy
was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 And
David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem,
Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make
speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us,
and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And
all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all
the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after
him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then
said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us?
return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger,
and also an exile.
20 Whereas
thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down
with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy
brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord
liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord
the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy
servant be.
22 And
David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed
over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 And
all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over:
the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people
passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And
lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of
the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went
up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 The
king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into
the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and
Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 And
David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up,
and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that
was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as
they went up.
31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 And
it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount,
where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him
with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But
if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy
servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I
now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of
Ahithophel.
35 And
hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore
it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's
house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold,
they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and
Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing
that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
2nd Samuel 16
1 And
when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the
servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and
upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of
raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 And
the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The
asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer
fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in
the wilderness may drink.
3 And
the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the
king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the
house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4 Then
said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto
Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace
in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5 And
when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the
family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he
came forth, and cursed still as he came.
6 And
he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all
the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his
left.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8 The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord
hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and,
behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
9 Then
said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog
curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his
head.
10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11 And
David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which
came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this
Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13 And
as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's
side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him,
and cast dust.
14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 And
it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto
Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the
king.
17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19 And
again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his
son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy
presence.
20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21 And
Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which
he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art
abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee
be strong.
22 So
they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went
in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 And
the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if
a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of
Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
2nd Samuel 17
1 Moreover
Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand
men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2 And
I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make
him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will
smite the king only:
3 And
I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest
is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And
when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying,
Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying?
if not; speak thou.
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 For,
said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty
men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps
in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with
the people.
9 Behold,
he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to
pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever
heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow
Absalom.
10 And
he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall
utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man,
and they which be with him are valiant men.
11 Therefore
I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan
even to Beer–sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and
that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So
shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we
will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of
all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 Moreover,
if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that
city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small
stone found there.
14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
15 Then
said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did
Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus
have I counselled.
16 Now
therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in
the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be
swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
17 Now
Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En–rogel; for they might not be seen to
come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and
told king David.
18 Nevertheless
a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away
quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his
court; whither they went down.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20 And
when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said,
Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be
gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not
find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 And
it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the
well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and
pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against
you.
22 Then
David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed
over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was
not gone over Jordan.
23 And
when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his
ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his
household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the
sepulchre of his father.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And
Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was
a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail
the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27 And
it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of
Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel
of Lo–debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28 Brought
beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and
flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
29 And
honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for
the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is
hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
2nd Samuel 18
1 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And
David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and
a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the
king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But
the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they
will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us:
but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better
that thou succour us out of the city
4 And
the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king
stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by
thousands.
5 And
the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for
my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard
when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 Where
the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there
was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 For
the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and
the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 And
Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and
the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught
hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth;
and the mule that was under him went away.
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 And
Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and
why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have
given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And
the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of
silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the
king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and
Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise
I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no
matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself
against me.
14 Then
said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in
his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet
alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 And
they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a
very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to
his tent.
18 Now
Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar,
which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name
in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is
called unto this day, Absalom's place.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 And
Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou
shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings,
because the king's son is dead.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Then
said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me,
I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou
run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 And
David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof
over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and
behold a man running alone.
25 And
the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be
alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And
the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the
porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said,
He also bringeth tidings.
27 And
the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the
running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good
man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And
Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down
to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And
the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered,
When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great
tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 And
the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi
answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against
thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And
the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son
Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
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Psalm 103
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Psalm 104
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.quench: Heb. break
12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.
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Acts 14
1 And
it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the
synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the
Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long
time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave
testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to
be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And
when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the
Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11 And
when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices,
saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the
likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then
the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and
garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And
saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions
with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities
unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all
things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless
he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us
rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and
gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
19 And
there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded
the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,
supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit,
as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the
city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And
when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many,
they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming
the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom
of God.
23 And
when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And
when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the
door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Acts 15
1 And
certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said,
Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When
therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation
with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of
them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this
question.
3 And
being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia
and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused
great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And
when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and
of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had
done with them.
5 But
there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to
keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And
when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them,
Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the
gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then
all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul,
declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles
by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After
this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which
is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will
set it up:
17 That
the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles,
upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But
that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols,
and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then
pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send
chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas;
namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the
brethren:
23 And
they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders
and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles
in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch
as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you
with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and
keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That
ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things
strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So
when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had
gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And
some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our
brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and
see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And
the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder
one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
