Day 11 - Matthew 11 and Acts 21-22

Matthew 11

11:1 It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

 

11:2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

 

11:3 and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"

 

11:4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

 

11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,  the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

 

11:6 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."

 

11:7 As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

 

11:8 But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.

 

11:9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

 

11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

 

11:11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

 

11:12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

 

11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

 

11:14 If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

 

11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

 

11:16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions

 

11:17 and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'

 

11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'

 

11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children.

 

11:20 Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.

 

11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

 

11:22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

 

11:23 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to hell.   For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.

 

11:24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."

 

11:25 At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.

 

11:26 Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.

 

11:27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.

 

11:28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.

 

11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 

Acts 21

21:1 When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

 

21:2 Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.

 

21:3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

 

21:4 Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

 

21:5 When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

 

21:6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

 

21:7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.

 

21:8 On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

 

21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

 

21:10 As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

 

21:11 Coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

 

21:12 When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

 

21:13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

 

21:14 When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Lord's will be done."

 

21:15 After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

 

21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

 

21:17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

 

21:18 The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

 

21:19 When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

 

21:20 They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

 

21:21 They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.

 

21:22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

 

21:23 Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.

 

21:24 Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law.

 

21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality."

 

21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

 

21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,

 

21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!"

 

21:29 For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

 

21:30 All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut.

 

21:31 As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

 

21:32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.

 

21:33 Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

 

21:34 Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks.

 

21:35 When he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;

 

21:36 for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!"

 

21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Do you know Greek?

 

21:38 Aren't you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"

 

21:39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."

 

21:40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,

 

Acts 22

22:1 "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."

 

22:2 When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,

 

22:3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.

 

22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

 

22:5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

 

22:6 It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.

 

22:7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'

 

22:8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'

 

22:9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.

 

22:10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.'

 

22:11 When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

 

22:12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

 

22:13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him.

 

22:14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

 

22:15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

 

22:16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

 

22:17 "It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

 

22:18 and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'

 

22:19 I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

 

22:20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'

 

22:21 "He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'"

 

22:22 They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn't fit to live!"

 

22:23 As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,

 

22:24 the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.

 

22:25 When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"

 

22:26 When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, "Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!"

 

22:27 The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes."

 

22:28 The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship for a great price." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."

 

22:29 Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.


22:30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

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Day 10 - Matthew 10 and Acts 19-20

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Day 12 - Matthew 12 and Acts 23-24