Today we read one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles, the last two chapters of 2 Samuel and the first chapter of 1 Kings.
May 13: Acts 24, 2 Samuel 23, 2 Samuel 24, 1 Kings 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Acts 24. Paul was on trial before Felix. After Peter put up a vigorous defense. To no avail, Felix adjourned the trial until Lysius 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.
2 Samuel 23 records David’s last words, and has a list of David’s mighty men.
2 Samuel 24. David took a Census of Israel and Judah,which was a sin that had to be punished. David chose to fall into the Hands of the LORD, so the angel of death ravaged the land for three days until he came to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. There David built an altar and sacrificed.
1 Kings 1. Adonijah, the heir apparent, since his older brothers were all dead, set himself up as king before David’s death. David had Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet Proclaim Solomon King instead.