Day 3
Matthew
3:1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
3:2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight."{Isaiah 40:3}
3:4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
3:6 They were baptized{or, immersed} by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism,{or, immersion} he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!
3:9 Don't think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
3:10 "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
3:11 I indeed baptize{or, immerse} you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.{TR and NU add "and with fire"}
3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
3:14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
3:15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
3:16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Acts
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession,
5:2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
5:4 While you kept it, didn't it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn't it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven't lied to men, but to God."
5:5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.
5:6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.
5:7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
5:8 Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much."
5:9 But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
5:10 She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
5:11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
5:12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
5:13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.
5:14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
5:15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
5:16 Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
5:18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
5:19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said,
5:20 "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
5:21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22 But the officers who came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
5:23 "We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"
5:24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
5:25 One came and told them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people."
5:26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
5:27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
5:28 saying, "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."
5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
5:31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
5:32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
5:33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.
5:34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
5:35 He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
5:36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing.
5:37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
5:38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
5:39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!"
5:40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.
5:42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
Acts
6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists{The Hellenists used Greek language and culture, even though they were also of Hebrew descent.} against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
6:2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
6:3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word."
6:5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;
6:6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6:7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
6:8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
6:9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
6:10 They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
6:11 Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
6:12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council,
6:13 and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
6:14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us."
6:15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
