Reading for Today:
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1 Chronicles 3:1
Chapter 3 1 Now these were the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
–4:43
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Psalms 76:7-12
7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8 Thou didst cause sentence to be heard from heaven; The earth feared, and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee. 11 Vow, and pay unto Jehovah your God: Let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth. Psalm 77 For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthan. A Psalm of Asaph.
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Proverbs 19:8-9
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
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Acts 4:23-37
23 And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. 24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 who by the Holy Spirit, `by' the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed: 27 for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, 28 to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one `of them' said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need. 36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, 37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Notes:
1 Chronicles 3:1
Chapter 3 1 Now these were the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
David. The chief reason for such detailed genealogies is that they affirm the line of Christ from Adam (
Luke 3:38
38 the `son' of Enos, the `son' of Seth, the `son' of Adam, the `son' of God.
) through Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1), thus emphasizing the kingdom intentions of God in Christ.
Psalms 76:10
10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee.
wrath of man shall praise You. The railings against God and His people are turned into praise to God when God providentially brings the wicked down (Is. 36:4–20;
Acts 2:23
23 him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:
; Rom. 8:28).
Psalms 76:12
12 He will cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth. Psalm 77 For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthan. A Psalm of Asaph.
cut off the spirit of princes. God shatters the attitude of proud governmental leaders who rebel against Him.
Acts 4:24
24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
–30 Peter and John’s experience did not frighten or discourage the other disciples, but exhilarated them. They took confidence in God’s sovereign control of all events, even their sufferings. Furthermore, they were comforted that the opposition whom they were facing was foreseen in the Old Testament (vv. 25, 26).
Acts 4:32
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one `of them' said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
–35 all things in common. Believers understood that all they had belonged to God; and therefore, when a brother or sister had a need, those who could meet it were obligated to do so (
James 2:15
15 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,
, 16;
1 John 3:17
17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
). The method was to give the money to the apostles who would distribute it (vv. 35, 37).
Acts 4:33
33 And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
great grace. This means favor and carries a twofold meaning here: 1) favor from the people outside the church. Because of the believers’ love and unity, the common people were impressed (2:47); and 2) favor from God who was granting blessing.
Acts 4:36
36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
Barnabas…a Levite. Luke introduces Barnabas as a role model from among those who donated property proceeds. Barnabas was a member of the priestly tribe of the Levites and a native of the island of Cyprus. He becomes an associate of Paul and a prominent figure later in the book (9:26, 27; 11:22–24, 30; chaps. 13–15). Cyprus. The third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia, located some 60 miles west off the Syrian coast.
DAY 20: List the major sermons in Acts.
Sermon
Theme
Reference
Peter to crowds at Pentecost
Peter’s explanation of the meaning of Pentecost
Acts 2:14
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, `saying', Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
–40
Peter to crowds at the temple
The Jewish people should repent
Acts 3:12
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?
–26
Peter to the Sanhedrin
Testimony that a helpless man was healed
Acts 4:5
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;
–12
Stephen to the Sanhedrin
Stephen accuses the Jews of killing the Messiah
Acts 7:2
2 And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
–53
Peter to Gentiles
Gentiles can be saved in the same manner as Jews
Acts 10:28
28 and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and `yet' unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:
–47
Peter to church at Jerusalem
A defense of Peter’s ministry to the Gentiles
Acts 11:4
4 But Peter began, and expounded `the matter' unto them in order, saying,
–18
Paul to synagogue at Antioch
Jesus was the Messiah of Old Testament prophecies
Acts 13:16
16 And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:
–41
Peter to Jerusalem Council
Salvation by grace available to all
Acts 15:7
7 And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
–11
James to Jerusalem Council
Gentile converts do not require circumcision
Acts 15:13
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
–21
Paul to Ephesian elders
Remain faithful in spite of persecution
Acts 20:17
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.
–35
Paul to crowd at Jerusalem
Paul’s conversion and mission to the Gentiles
Acts 22:1
Chapter 22 1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
–21
Paul to Sanhedrin
Paul’s defense of the gospel
Acts 23:1
Chapter 23 1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
–6
Paul to King Agrippa
Paul’s conversion and zeal for the gospel
Acts 26:2
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:
–23
Paul to Jewish leaders at Rome
Paul’s statement about his Jewish heritage
Acts 28:17
17 And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
–20
From The MacArthur Daily Bible Copyright © 2003. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson Bibles, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc, Nashville, TN 37214, www.thomasnelson.com.
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