The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday June 4, 2018 (NIV)

David’s Last Song

23 Now these are the last words of David.

His Mighty Men

⁸ These are the names of the mighty men (warriors) whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the ^[a]captains, also called Adino the Eznite (spear) because of the ^[b]eight hundred men killed [by him] at one time.^{(B) 9} Next to him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted and defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone. ¹⁰ Eleazar stood up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; the people returned after him only to take the spoil [of the slain].

¹¹ Next to Eleazar was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people [of Israel] fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he took his stand in the center of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹³ Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time in the cave of Adullam, while an army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁵ And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out [in worship] to the Lord. ¹⁷ And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should drink this. [Is it not the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the ^[c]three mighty men did.

¹⁸ Now Abishai the brother of Joab the son of Zeruiah was chief of the ^[d]thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and gained a reputation beside the three. ¹⁹ He was the most honored of the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three.

²⁰ Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, killed two [famous] warriors of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive and handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with his own spear. ²² These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and gained a reputation beside the three mighty men. ²³ He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. David appointed him over his guard.

The Day of Pentecost

2 When the day of ^[a]Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, ² and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. ⁴ And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other ^[b]tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

⁵ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout and God-fearing men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect. ⁷ They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears in our own language or native dialect? ⁹ [Among us there are] Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and ^[c]Asia [Minor], ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism), ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!” ¹² And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?” ¹³ But others were laughing and joking and ridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine and are drunk!”

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closely and pay attention to what I have to say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is [only] the third hour of the day (9:00 a.m.); ¹⁶ but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and attested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know— ²³ this Man, when handed over [to the Roman authorities] according to the predetermined decision and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross and put to death by the hands of lawless and godless men. ²⁴ But God raised Him up, releasing Him and bringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power. ²⁵ For David says of Him,

²⁹ “Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that God had sworn to him with an oath that He would seat one of his descendants on his throne,^{(C) 31} he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned [in death] to Hades (the realm of the dead), nor did His body undergo decay.^{(D) 32} God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore having been exalted ^[d]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says,

³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The Ingathering

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”^{(F) 40} And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “^[g]Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!” ⁴¹ So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about ^[h]3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. ⁴² They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to ^[i]eating meals together and to prayers.

⁴³ A sense of awe was felt by ^[j]everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] ^[k]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. ⁴⁵ And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. ⁴⁶ Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of ^[a]Ascents. Of David.