Category: Acts

Day 155 of reading the Holy Bible in 365 days.

Acts 2. At the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit arrived, and that day many languages were spoken by the disciples, at least 15 different tongues that the listeners understood. Peter stood up and delivered his first sermon, a powerful one that led to about 3000 new converts. The following few weeks were good times and the believers were in good fellowship with each other.

2 Kings 20. Hezekiah was ill unto death, but he prayed to the LORD, and got his life extended another fifteen years. From Babylon came envoys, Hezekiah showed them every treasure in his palace, for in doing so he thought “There will be peace for our time” just like Neville Chamberlain did before WWII.

2 Kings 21. Manasseh became King of Judah, doing more evil in the sight of the LORD than even the surrounding countries. After his death Amon reigned and died, followed by his son, Josiah.

Day 154 of reading the Holy Bible in 365 days.

Acts 1 begins with the disciples watching Jesus’ Ascension, but before he left Earth he promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. While waiting for the Holy Spirit to come Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the 12 Apostles.

2 Kings 18. Hezekiah reigned in Judah, and was threatened by the Assyrians. Sennacherib boasted against the LORD, but Hezekiah still trusted the LORD and that He would deliver His people. The chapter ends with a standoff.

2 Kings 19. The prophet Isaiah assured deliverance from Sennacherib’s threat. Hezekiah’s prayed for deliverance and Isaiah delivered the word of the LORD concerning Sennacherib. That night the Angel of the Lord slayed 185,000 men, and Sennacherib was defeated and died not long after.

July 10: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 28 records Paul’s ministry on Malta and his final sailing to Rome. After Paul arrived in Rome it tells of Paul’s ministry there, and he stayed there two full years.

Nehemiah 1 records Nehemiah’s prayer.

Nehemiah 2. After some days of praying Nehemiah went to the King, told the King why he was sad and was sent to Judah where he viewed the wall of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 3 retells the start of rebuilding the wall.

July 9: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 27:13-44. Against better advice from God via Paul the captain and Centurion ignored Paul’s warning, and sure enough a great storm grew up and they were shipwrecked on Malta, but all got safely ashore.

Proverbs 9 contrasts the way of wisdom with the way of folly.

Psalm 51, of David, written after Nathan confronted David after his adultery with Bathsheba. This Psalm explains fully, how God would say, after David was pointed out to be both an adulterer and a murderer: “He was a man after God’s own heart”.

Psalm 52, of David. The Psalm is a contemplation of David, contrasting the final end of evil men with the rewards of the righteous.

Psalm 53. This is a short Psalm telling about fools that say “No God”

July 8: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 27:1-12 starts with Paul’s Voyage to Rome, how the winds were contrary and made the journey last into the stormy season. Paul’s warning was ignored, so the ship sailed on.

Ezra 8 starts with a list of the heads of families who returned with Ezra. Ezra separated twelve priests to be temple servants and led in fasting and prayer for protection. The people came with gifts for the temple as they returned to Jerusalem.

Ezra 9. Ezra prayed about Intermarriage with pagans and called it a sin according to the Law.

Ezra 10. The returning exiles made confession of improper marriages, and their pagan wives were put away.

July 7: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 26. Paul gave his testimony, recounted his early life, his conversion and  his life as a Christian. Festus  shouted “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” but Agrippa said  “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

Ezra 5. The restoration of the Temple resumed.

Ezra 6 records the Decree of Darius and the Temple’s completion and dedication, after which the Passover was celebrated.

Ezra 7. Finally Ezra arrived in Jerusalem and the letter from Artaxerxes to Ezra is recorded .

July 6: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 25. Paul stood trial before Festus, and Festus found that the charges were all religious, so he suggested sending Paul to Jerusalem, but Paul Appealed to Caesar. To finalize the charges Paul then went before King Agrippa and client Queen Bernice (Festus could find nothing chargeable according to Roman Law on his own).

Ezra 1 begins with the end of the Babylonian captivity and Cyrus decree to rebuild the Temple. The people prepared to return to Jerusalem.

Ezra 2 lists the captives who returned to Jerusalem.

Ezra 3. Worship was restored in Jerusalem and the restoration of the Temple began to great rejoicing, but also weeping.

Ezra 4. The resistance to building the Temple was great, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem was successfully opposed (for a while).

July 5: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 24. Paul was on trial before Felix. He put up a vigorous defense, but at no avail. Felix adjourned the trial until Lysias would come back. Two years passed and Felix kept Paul in prison, hoping for a bribe so he could release him. None came and Felix was replaced by Justus, but Paul was still kept in prison past the time allowed, in order to keep the Jews pacified.

Proverbs 8 praises the excellence of Wisdom.

Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is more of a teaching Psalm and give instruction on how to live and gives hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”

Psalm 50, of Asaph. God says: “for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.” and “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

July 4: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 23. The Apostle Paul gave his message in Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin, which led to the plot to kill Paul. Paul was then sent to Felix under heavy guard.

2 Chronicles 34. King Josiah tore down the altars to the idols, but not before he had their priests killed and burned on them. Then he took up offerings to restore the temple. Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law. Josiah then restored the temple and the temple worship and the people followed as long as Josiah lived.

2 Chronicles 35. Josiah celebrated Passover lavishly but after that he foolishly engaged king Neco of Egypt, who intended to fight somebody else. The result was that Josiah died in battle. One of the mourners was the Prophet Jeremiah that wrote the book of Lamentations as a result.

2 Chronicles 36 tells a sad story, the reign and captivity of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin. Zedekiah was granted king by Nebuchadnezzar but rebelled. This led to the fall of Jerusalem and seventy years of captivity. 2 Chronicles ends with Cyrus’ Proclamation.

July 3: Reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Acts 22. The Apostle Paul gave his salvation testimony to the Jerusalem crowd in the Aramaic language. When Paul mentioned the stoning of Stephen and that he preached to the Gentiles as well, the crowd wanted him killed right away. Paul claimed Roman citizenship, so the next day he was ordered to stand before the Sanhedrin.

2 Chronicles 31 tells of the Reforms of Hezekiah. “He did it with all his heart, and prospered.”

2 Chronicles 32. Sennacherib boasted against the LORD but was defeated and died. Hezekiah humbled himself,so the LORD sent an angel to deliver Judah. Hezekiah grew in wealth and honor, but he too finally died.

Chronicles 33. Manasseh, king of Judah became a sorcerer, repented and was restored but eventually died and was replaced by Amon , who reigned for two years, did evil, was killed and his son Josiah became king.