Month: June 2024

Hoshea Son of Elah, the Last King of Israel

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria and ruled for nine years. ² He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who came before him.

³ Shalmaneser king of Assyria went up against him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid tribute to him. ⁴ But the king of Assyria caught Hoshea in a conspiracy. He had sent messengers to So^[a] king of Egypt, and he did not send tribute to the king of Assyria as he had done in previous years. That is why the king of Assyria arrested him and confined him in prison.

⁵ Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land. He went up against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. ⁶ In Hoshea’s ninth year, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and exiled Israel to Assyria. He made them live in Halah and along the Habur River, which is the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.^[b]

⁷ This happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and they feared other gods. ⁸ They walked in the practices of the nations, whom the Lord had driven out before the people of Israel, and the practices which the kings of Israel had introduced. ⁹ The people of Israel did secret things against the Lord their God, which were not right. They also built high places for themselves in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up sacred memorial stones and Asherah poles for themselves upon every high hill and under every leafy tree. ¹¹ They offered sacrifices at all the high places, like the nations that God drove out before them. They did evil things, provoking the Lord to anger. ¹² They served filthy idols even though the Lord had said to them, “You must not do this.”

¹³ The Lord had warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers, saying, “Turn back from your evil ways and keep my commands and my regulations, according to the entire law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you through my servants the prophets.” ¹⁴ But they did not listen. They made their necks just as stiff as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God.

¹⁵ They rejected his regulations and the covenant which he made with their fathers and the testimony with which he warned them. They followed useless idols, and they became useless themselves. They followed the other nations around them, about whom the Lord had commanded them, “Do not do as they do.” ¹⁶ They deserted all the commands of the Lord their God, and they made for themselves cast metal images, two calves. They made Asherah poles, and they bowed down to the whole army of the heavens,^[c] and they served Baal. ¹⁷ They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire. They engaged in divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger. ¹⁸ So the Lord was furious with Israel, and he removed them from his presence. None was left—only the tribe of Judah.

¹⁹ Even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They walked in the practices which Israel introduced. ²⁰ So the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and he afflicted them. He gave them into the hand of plunderers until he cast them out of his presence.

²¹ When the Lord tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. But Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the Lord. He caused them to commit a great sin. ²² The people of Israel walked in all the sins which Jeroboam did. They did not turn from them ²³ until the Lord removed Israel from his presence, just as he had said through all his servants the prophets. So Israel went to Assyria, into exile from her homeland to this day.

New Settlers in Israel

²⁴ The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and he settled them in the cities of Samaria in the place of the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. ²⁵ When they began to settle there, they did not fear the Lord, so the Lord sent lions among them. The lions were killing people, ²⁶ so they said to the king of Assyria, “The peoples whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the customs of the god of the land. That is why he has sent lions among them, and the lions are killing people, because there aren’t any people left who know the customs of the god of the land.”

²⁷ So the king of Assyria commanded, “Get one of the priests who was exiled from there. He will go and live there and teach the customs of the god of the land.” ²⁸ So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came and lived in Bethel. He was teaching them how they should fear the Lord.

²⁹ But each nation was still making its own gods and setting them in the shrines^[d] of the high places which the Samaritans had made, each nation in their cities where they were dwelling. ³⁰ The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth. The people from Kuth made Nergal. The people from Hamath made Ashima. ³¹ The people from Avvah made Nibhaz and Tartak. The people from Sepharvaim were burning their sons in the fire to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim. ^32 [e]They were fearing the Lord, but they were making priests for their high places from all kinds of people, who were serving them in the shrines on the high places. ³³ They were fearing the Lord, but they were also serving their gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been deported.

³⁴ To this day they are acting according to their former customs. There are none of them who fear the Lord, and there is no one who acts according to the regulations, ordinances, law, and commands which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, to whom he gave the name Israel. ³⁵ The Lord had made a covenant with them and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods. Do not bow down to them. Do not serve them. Do not sacrifice to them. ³⁶ Rather fear the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. Fear him and bow down to him and offer sacrifices to him. ³⁷ Keep the regulations, ordinances, law, and commands, which he wrote for you, and do not fear other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not fear other gods. ³⁹ Fear only the Lord your God. He is the one who will save you from the hand of all your enemies.”

⁴⁰ But these nations did not listen. Instead, they acted according to their former customs. ⁴¹ These nations were fearing the Lord, and they were serving their idols. Their children and their grandchildren did just as their fathers had done. They are doing this up to this day.

Hezekiah Son of Ahaz, King of Judah

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah, became king. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi^[f] daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like everything that his father David had done. ⁴ He removed the high places, smashed the sacred memorial stones, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke into pieces the bronze serpent which Moses had made, because until those days the people of Israel had been burning incense to it. They called it Nehushtan.^[g]

⁵ He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, and there was no one like him among the kings of Judah, before him or after him. ⁶ He held fast to the Lord. He did not turn aside from following him, but he kept the command which the Lord commanded Moses. ⁷ The Lord was with him. Wherever he went, the Lord gave him success. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸ He struck down the Philistines all the way to Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

Assyrian Invasions

⁹ In Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria went up against Samaria and laid siege to it. ¹⁰ They captured it at the end of three years. In the sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was captured. ¹¹ Then the king of Assyria exiled Israel to Assyria. He settled them in Halah and on the Habur River, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. ¹² This was because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord their God, but they abandoned his covenant and all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded. They did not listen to it or obey it.

To Macedonia and Greece

20 After the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them. After saying good-bye, he left to go to Macedonia. ² After he had gone through those areas and had spoken many words of encouragement to the people, he came to Greece ³ and stayed there three months.

Because a plot was made against him by the Jews just as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. ⁴ He was accompanied^[a] by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, along with Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us^[b] at Troas. ⁶ We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and within five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he continued talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus. He was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking for a long time. When he was sound asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, bent over him, threw his arms around him, and said, “Do not be alarmed, because he is alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After talking for a considerable time until dawn, he left. ¹² They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.

On to Miletus

¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had arranged it this way, since he was intending to travel there by land. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. ¹⁵ From there we set sail. We arrived off Chios the next day. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and^[c] on the following day we came to Miletus. ¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

Paul Says Farewell to the Elders of Ephesus

¹⁷ From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they came to him, he said to them, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia. ¹⁹ I served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with the trials that came to me due to the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ You know how I did not hesitate to proclaim to you anything that would be beneficial for you or to teach you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have solemnly testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.^[d]

²² “And you see, now I am going to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit keeps warning me in town after town that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life as of no great value to me, so that I may finish my race and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus—to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

²⁵ “Now take note of this too. I know that none of you among whom I went around preaching the kingdom of God will ever see my face again. ²⁶ Therefore I solemnly declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, ²⁷ for I did not hesitate to proclaim to you the whole counsel of God.

²⁸ “Always keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God,^[e] which he purchased with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves, who will not spare the flock, will come in among you. ³⁰ Even from your own group men will rise up, twisting the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be always on the alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

³² “And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which has power to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I did not covet anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me. ³⁵ In every way I gave you an example that, by working hard like this, we need to help the weak and to remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ After Paul said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. ³⁷ They all wept very much, as they threw their arms around Paul’s neck and kissed him. ³⁸ They were most distressed over the statement he made, that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Psalm 148

Praise Him, All Creation

Praise Him, All Creation

Praise From the Heavens

Praise From the Earth

Azariah’s Reign over Judah

15 In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Amaziah’s son Azariah became king over Judah. ² He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done.^{[a] 4} But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. ⁵ The Lord afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease^[b] until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters,^[c] while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

⁶ The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.^{[d] 7} Azariah passed away^[e] and was buried^[f] with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.

Zechariah’s Reign over Israel

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zechariah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did evil in the sight of^[g] the Lord, as his ancestors had done. He did not repudiate^[h] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. ¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him; he assassinated him in Ibleam^[i] and took his place as king. ¹¹ The rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[j] 12} His assassination fulfilled^[k] the Lord’s message to Jehu, “Four generations of your descendants will rule on Israel’s throne.”^[l] And that is how it happened.

¹³ Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s^[m] reign over Judah. He reigned for one month^[n] in Samaria. ¹⁴ Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to^[o] Samaria and attacked Shallum son of Jabesh.^[p] He killed him and took his place as king. ¹⁵ The rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, including the conspiracy he organized, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[q] 16} At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender.^[r] He even ripped open the pregnant women.

Menahem’s Reign over Israel

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. He reigned for ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did evil in the sight of^[s] the Lord; he did not repudiate^[t] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin.^[u]

During his reign, ¹⁹ Pul^[v] king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid^[w] him^[x] 1,000 talents^[y] of silver to gain his support^[z] and to solidify his control of the kingdom.^{[aa] 20} Menahem got this silver by taxing all the wealthy men in Israel; he took fifty shekels of silver from each one of them and paid it to the king of Assyria.^[ab] Then the king of Assyria left; he did not stay there in the land.

²¹ The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[ac] 22} Menahem passed away^[ad] and his son Pekahiah replaced him as king.

Pekahiah’s Reign over Israel

²³ In the fiftieth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Menahem’s son Pekahiah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for two years. ²⁴ He did evil in the sight of^[ae] the Lord; he did not repudiate^[af] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. ²⁵ His officer Pekah son of Remaliah conspired against him. He and fifty Gileadites assassinated Pekahiah, as well as Argob and Arieh, in Samaria in the fortress of the royal palace.^[ag] Pekah^[ah] then took his place as king.

²⁶ The rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^[ai]

Pekah’s Reign over Israel

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for twenty years. ²⁸ He did evil in the sight of^[aj] the Lord; he did not repudiate^[ak] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. ²⁹ During Pekah’s reign over Israel, King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the territory of Naphtali. He deported the people^[al] to Assyria. ³⁰ Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He assassinated him^[am] and took his place as king, in the twentieth year of the reign of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ The rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^[an]

Jotham’s Reign over Judah

³² In the second year of the reign of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Uzziah’s son Jotham became king over Judah. ³³ He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Uzziah had done.^{[ao] 35} But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate to the Lord’s temple.

³⁶ The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.^{[ap] 37} In those days the Lord prompted King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah to attack Judah.^{[aq] 38} Jotham passed away^[ar] and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.

Ahaz’s Reign over Judah

16 In the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham’s son Ahaz became king over Judah. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the Lord his God, in contrast to his ancestor David.^{[as] 3} He followed in the footsteps of^[at] the kings of Israel. He passed his son through the fire,^[au] a horrible sin practiced by the nations^[av] whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

⁵ At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem.^[aw] They besieged Ahaz,^[ax] but were unable to conquer him.^{[ay] 6} (At that time King Rezin of Syria^[az] recovered Elat for Syria; he drove the Judahites from there.^[ba] Syrians^[bb] arrived in Elat and live there to this very day.) ⁷ Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your dependent.^[bc] March up and rescue me from the power^[bd] of the king of Syria and the king of Israel, who have attacked^[be] me.” ⁸ Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that were^[bf] in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as tribute^[bg] to the king of Assyria. ⁹ The king of Assyria responded favorably to his request;^[bh] he^[bi] attacked Damascus and captured it. He deported the people^[bj] to Kir and executed Rezin.

¹⁰ When King Ahaz went to meet with King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria in Damascus, he saw the altar there.^[bk] King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a drawing of the altar and a blueprint for its design.^{[bl] 11} Uriah the priest built an altar in conformity to the plans King Ahaz had sent from Damascus.^[bm] Uriah the priest finished it before King Ahaz arrived back from Damascus.^{[bn] 12} When the king arrived back from Damascus and^[bo] saw the altar, he approached it^[bp] and offered a sacrifice on it.^{[bq] 13} He offered his burnt sacrifice and his grain offering. He poured out his libation and sprinkled the blood from his peace offerings on the altar. ¹⁴ He moved the bronze altar that stood in the Lord’s presence from the front of the temple (between the altar and the Lord’s temple) and put it on the north side of the new^[br] altar. ¹⁵ King Ahaz ordered Uriah the priest, “On the large altar^[bs] offer the morning burnt sacrifice, the evening grain offering, the royal burnt sacrifices and grain offering, the burnt sacrifice for all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their libations. Sprinkle all the blood of the burnt sacrifice and other sacrifices on it. The bronze altar will be for my personal use.”^{[bt] 16} So Uriah the priest did exactly as^[bu] King Ahaz ordered.

¹⁷ King Ahaz took off the frames of the movable stands, and removed the basins from them. He took “The Sea”^[bv] down from the bronze bulls that supported it^[bw] and put it on the stone pavement. ¹⁸ He also removed the Sabbath awning^[bx] that had been built^[by] in the temple and the king’s outer entranceway to the Lord’s temple, on account of the king of Assyria.^[bz]

¹⁹ The rest of the events of Ahaz’s reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.^{[ca] 20} Ahaz passed away^[cb] and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Hezekiah replaced him as king.

¹³ But some itinerant^[a] Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name^[b] of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by^[c] evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn^[d] you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” ¹⁴ (Now seven sons of a man named^[e] Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)^{[f] 15} But the evil spirit replied to them,^[g] “I know about Jesus^[h] and I am acquainted with^[i] Paul, but who are you?”^{[j] 16} Then the man who was possessed by^[k] the evil spirit jumped on^[l] them and beat them all into submission.^[m] He prevailed^[n] against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over^[o] them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.^{[p] 18} Many of those who had believed came forward,^[q] confessing and making their deeds known.^{[r] 19} Large numbers^[s] of those who had practiced magic^[t] collected their books^[u] and burned them up in the presence of everyone.^[v] When^[w] the value of the books was added up, it was found to total 50,000 silver coins.^{[x] 20} In this way the word of the Lord^[y] continued to grow in power^[z] and to prevail.^[aa]

A Riot in Ephesus

²¹ Now after all these things had taken place,^[ab] Paul resolved^[ac] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia^[ad] and Achaia.^[ae] He said,^[af] “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”^{[ag] 22} So after sending^[ah] two of his assistants,^[ai] Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,^[aj] he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.^[ak]

²³ At^[al] that time^[am] a great disturbance^[an] took place concerning the Way.^{[ao] 24} For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines^[ap] of Artemis,^[aq] brought a great deal^[ar] of business^[as] to the craftsmen. ²⁵ He gathered^[at] these^[au] together, along with the workmen in similar trades,^[av] and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity^[aw] comes from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded^[ax] and turned away^[ay] a large crowd,^[az] not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia,^[ba] by saying^[bb] that gods made by hands are not gods at all.^{[bc] 27} There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,^[bd] but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis^[be] will be regarded as nothing,^[bf] and she whom all the province of Asia^[bg] and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”^[bh]

²⁸ When^[bi] they heard^[bj] this they became enraged^[bk] and began to shout,^[bl] “Great is Artemis^[bm] of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ The^[bn] city was filled with the uproar,^[bo] and the crowd^[bp] rushed to the theater^[bq] together,^[br] dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ³⁰ But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly,^[bs] the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the provincial authorities^[bt] who were his friends sent^[bu] a message^[bv] to him, urging him not to venture^[bw] into the theater. ³² So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.^{[bx] 33} Some of the crowd concluded^[by] it was about^[bz] Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.^[ca] Alexander, gesturing^[cb] with his hand, was wanting to make a defense^[cc] before the public assembly.^{[cd] 34} But when they recognized^[ce] that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,^[cf] “Great is Artemis^[cg] of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.^{[ch] 35} After the city secretary^[ci] quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person^[cj] is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper^[ck] of the temple of the great Artemis^[cl] and of her image that fell from heaven?^{[cm] 36} So because these facts^[cn] are indisputable,^[co] you must keep quiet^[cp] and not do anything reckless.^{[cq] 37} For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers^[cr] nor blasphemers of our goddess.^{[cs] 38} If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint^[ct] against someone, the courts are open^[cu] and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.^{[cv] 39} But if you want anything in addition,^[cw] it will have to be settled^[cx] in a legal assembly.^{[cy] 40} For^[cz] we are in danger of being charged with rioting^[da] today, since there is no cause we can give to explain^[db] this disorderly gathering.”^{[dc] 41} After^[dd] he had said^[de] this,^[df] he dismissed the assembly.^[dg]

Psalm 147^[a]

Jehoahaz’s Reign over Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of the reign of Judah’s King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for seventeen years. ² He did evil in the sight of^[a] the Lord. He continued in^[b] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.^{[c] 3} The Lord was furious with^[d] Israel and handed them over to^[e] King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael’s son Ben Hadad for many years.^[f]

⁴ Jehoahaz asked for the Lord’s mercy,^[g] and the Lord responded favorably,^[h] for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.^{[i] 5} The Lord provided a deliverer^[j] for Israel, and they were freed from Syria’s power.^[k] The Israelites once more lived in security.^{[l] 6} But they did not repudiate^[m] the sinful ways of the family^[n] of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins.^[o] There was even an Asherah pole^[p] standing in Samaria. ⁷ Jehoahaz had no army left^[q] except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops^[r] and trampled on them as dust.^[s]

⁸ The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[t] 9} Jehoahaz passed away^[u] and was buried^[v] in Samaria. His son Jehoash^[w] replaced him as king.

Jehoash’s Reign over Israel

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of King Jehoash’s reign over Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for sixteen years. ¹¹ He did evil in the sight of^[x] the Lord. He did not repudiate^[y] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin; he continued in those sins.^{[z] 12} The rest of the events of Jehoash’s^[aa] reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[ab] 13} Jehoash passed away^[ac] and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.^[ad] Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha Makes One Final Prophecy

¹⁴ Now Elisha had a terminal illness.^[ae] King Jehoash of Israel went down to visit him.^[af] He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot^[ag] and horsemen of Israel!”^{[ah] 15} Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.^{[ai] 16} Then Elisha^[aj] told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.”^[ak] He did so,^[al] and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. ¹⁷ Elisha^[am] said, “Open the east window,” and he did so.^[an] Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he did so.^[ao] Elisha^[ap] said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria.^[aq] You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!”^{[ar] 18} Then Elisha^[as] said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so.^[at] He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The prophet^[au] got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria!^[av] But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”

²⁰ Elisha died and was buried.^[aw] Moabite raiding parties invaded^[ax] the land at the beginning of the year.^{[ay] 21} One day some men^[az] were burying a man when they spotted^[ba] a raiding party. So they threw the dead man^[bb] into Elisha’s tomb. When the body^[bc] touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man^[bd] came to life and stood on his feet.

²² Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign.^{[be] 23} But the Lord had mercy on them and felt pity for them.^[bf] He extended his favor to them^[bg] because of the promise he had made^[bh] to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day.^{[bi] 24} When King Hazael of Syria died, his son Ben Hadad replaced him as king. ²⁵ Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash took back from^[bj] Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Jehoash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.

Amaziah’s Reign over Judah

14 In the second year of the reign of Israel’s King Joash son of Joahaz,^[bk] Joash’s^[bl] son Amaziah became king over Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother^[bm] was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what the Lord approved,^[bn] but not like David his ancestor had done. He followed the example of his father Joash.^{[bo] 4} But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

⁵ When he had secured control of the kingdom,^[bp] he executed the servants who had assassinated his father.^{[bq] 6} But he did not execute the sons of the assassins. He obeyed the Lord’s commandment as recorded in the scroll of the law of Moses, “Fathers must not be put to death for what their sons do,^[br] and sons must not be put to death for what their fathers do.^[bs] A man must be put to death only for his own sin.”^[bt]

⁷ He defeated^[bu] 10,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley; he captured Sela in battle and renamed it Joktheel, a name it has retained to this very day. ⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, “Come, let’s meet face to face.”^{[bv] 9} King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal^[bw] of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn.^{[bx] 10} You thoroughly defeated Edom,^[by] and it has gone to your head!^[bz] Gloat over your success,^[ca] but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?”^{[cb] 11} But Amaziah would not heed the warning,^[cc] so King Jehoash of Israel attacked.^[cd] He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face^[ce] in Beth Shemesh of Judah. ¹² Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home.^{[cf] 13} King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He^[cg] attacked^[ch] Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about 600 feet.^{[ci] 14} He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace, and some hostages.^[cj] Then he went back to Samaria.

¹⁵ The rest of the events of Jehoash’s^[ck] reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[cl] 16} Jehoash passed away^[cm] and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam replaced him as king.

¹⁷ King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. ¹⁸ The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.^{[cn] 19} Conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem,^[co] so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him,^[cp] and they killed him there. ²⁰ His body was carried back by horses,^[cq] and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David. ²¹ All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. ²² Azariah^[cr] built up Elat and restored it to Judah after the king^[cs] had passed away.^[ct]

Jeroboam II’s Reign over Israel

²³ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Joash became king over Israel. He reigned for forty-one years in Samaria. ²⁴ He did evil in the sight of^[cu] the Lord; he did not repudiate^[cv] the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. ²⁵ He restored the border of Israel from Lebo Hamath^[cw] in the north to the sea of the rift valley^[cx] in the south,^[cy] just as in the message from the Lord God of Israel that he had announced through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. ²⁶ The Lord saw Israel’s intense suffering;^[cz] everyone was weak and incapacitated and Israel had no deliverer.^{[da] 27} The Lord had not decreed that he would blot out Israel’s memory^[db] from under heaven,^[dc] so he delivered them through Jeroboam son of Joash.

²⁸ The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign, including all his accomplishments, his military success in restoring Israelite control over Damascus and Hamath, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[dd] 29} Jeroboam passed away^[de] and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.^[df] His son Zechariah replaced him as king.

²³ After he spent^[a] some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia^[b] and Phrygia,^[c] strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Begins His Ministry

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker,^[d] well-versed^[e] in the scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in^[f] the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm^[g] he spoke and taught accurately the facts^[h] about Jesus, although he knew^[i] only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak out fearlessly^[j] in the synagogue,^[k] but when Priscilla and Aquila^[l] heard him, they took him aside^[m] and explained the way of God to him more accurately. ²⁷ When Apollos^[n] wanted to cross over to Achaia,^[o] the brothers encouraged^[p] him^[q] and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he^[r] assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, ²⁸ for he refuted the Jews vigorously^[s] in public debate,^[t] demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ^[u] was Jesus.^[v]

Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus

19 While^[w] Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland^[x] regions^[y] and came to Ephesus. He^[z] found some disciples there^{[aa] 2} and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”^[ab] They replied,^[ac] “No, we have not even^[ad] heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ So Paul^[ae] said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied.^{[af] 4} Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,^[ag] that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, ⁶ and when Paul placed^[ah] his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came^[ai] upon them, and they began to speak^[aj] in tongues and to prophesy.^{[ak] 7} (Now there were about twelve men in all.)^[al]

Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus

⁸ So Paul^[am] entered^[an] the synagogue^[ao] and spoke out fearlessly^[ap] for three months, addressing^[aq] and convincing^[ar] them about the kingdom of God.^{[as] 9} But when^[at] some were stubborn^[au] and refused to believe, reviling^[av] the Way^[aw] before the congregation, he left^[ax] them and took the disciples with him,^[ay] addressing^[az] them every day^[ba] in the lecture hall^[bb] of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia,^[bc] both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.^[bd]

The Seven Sons of Sceva

¹¹ God was performing extraordinary^[be] miracles by Paul’s hands, ¹² so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body^[bf] were brought^[bg] to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.^[bh]

Psalm 146^[a]

³² In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory.^[a] Hazael attacked their eastern border.^{[b] 33} He conquered all the land of Gilead, including the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, extending all the way from the Aroer in the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.^[c]

³⁴ The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^{[d] 35} Jehu passed away^[e] and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king. ³⁶ Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.

Athaliah is Eliminated

11 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line.^{[f] 2} So Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram^[g] and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash and stole him away from the rest of the royal descendants who were to be executed. She hid him and his nurse in the room where the bed covers were stored.^[h] So he was hidden from Athaliah and escaped execution.^{[i] 3} He hid out with his nurse in the Lord’s temple^[j] for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.

⁴ In the seventh year Jehoiada summoned^[k] the officers of the units of hundreds of the Carians^[l] and the royal bodyguard.^[m] He met with them^[n] in the Lord’s temple. He made an agreement^[o] with them and made them swear an oath of allegiance in the Lord’s temple. Then he showed them the king’s son. ⁵ He ordered them, “This is what you must do. One third of the unit that is on duty during the Sabbath will guard the royal palace. ⁶ Another third of you will be stationed at the Foundation^[p] Gate. Still another third of you will be stationed at the gate behind the royal guard.^[q] You will take turns guarding the palace.^{[r] 7} The two units who are off duty on the Sabbath will guard the Lord’s temple and protect the king.^{[s] 8} You must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever approaches your ranks must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.”^[t]

⁹ The officers of the units of hundreds did just as^[u] Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath, and reported^[v] to Jehoiada the priest. ¹⁰ The priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David’s spears and the shields that were kept in the Lord’s temple. ¹¹ The royal bodyguard^[w] took their stations, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.^{[x] 12} Jehoiada^[y] led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia.^[z] They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head.^[aa] They clapped their hands and cried out, “Long live the king!”

¹³ When Athaliah heard the royal guard^[ab] shout, she joined the crowd^[ac] at the Lord’s temple. ¹⁴ Then she saw^[ad] the king standing by the pillar, according to custom. The officers stood beside the king with their trumpets, and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”^{[ae] 15} Jehoiada the priest ordered the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army,^[af] “Bring her outside the temple to the guards.^[ag] Put to death by the sword anyone who follows her.” The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord’s temple.^{[ah] 16} They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses’ entrance.^[ai] There she was executed.

¹⁷ Jehoiada then drew up a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, stipulating that they should be loyal to the Lord.^{[aj] 18} All the people of the land went and demolished^[ak] the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols^[al] to bits.^[am] They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altar. Jehoiada the priest^[an] then placed guards at the Lord’s temple. ¹⁹ He took the officers of the units of hundreds, the Carians, the royal bodyguard, and all the people of the land, and together they led the king down from the Lord’s temple. They entered the royal palace through the Gate of the Royal Bodyguard,^[ao] and the king^[ap] sat down on the royal throne. ²⁰ All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah with the sword in the royal palace.

Joash’s Reign over Judah

²¹ (12:1)^[aq] Jehoash^[ar] was seven years old when he began to reign. 12 ¹ (12:2) In Jehu’s seventh year Jehoash became king; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah, who was from Beer Sheba. ² Jehoash did what the Lord approved^[as] all his days when^[at] Jehoiada the priest taught him. ³ But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

⁴ Jehoash said to the priests, “I place at your disposal^[au] all the consecrated silver that has been brought to the Lord’s temple, including the silver collected from the census tax,^[av] the silver received from those who have made vows,^[aw] and all the silver that people have voluntarily contributed to the Lord’s temple.^{[ax] 5} The priests should receive the silver they need from the treasurers and repair any damage to the temple they discover.”^[ay]

⁶ By the twenty-third year of King Jehoash’s reign the priests had still not repaired the damage to the temple. ⁷ So King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest along with the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, take no more silver from your treasurers unless you intend to use it to repair the damage.”^{[az] 8} The priests agreed^[ba] not to collect silver from the people and relieved themselves of personal responsibility for the temple repairs.^[bb]

⁹ Jehoiada the priest took a chest and drilled a hole in its lid. He placed it on the right side of the altar near the entrance of^[bc] the Lord’s temple. The priests who guarded the entrance would put into it all the silver brought to the Lord’s temple. ¹⁰ When they saw the chest was full of silver, the royal secretary^[bd] and the high priest counted the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple and bagged it up.^{[be] 11} They would then hand over^[bf] the silver that had been weighed to the construction foremen^[bg] assigned to the Lord’s temple. They hired carpenters and builders to work on the Lord’s temple, ¹² as well as masons and stonecutters. They bought wood and chiseled stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple and also paid for all the other expenses.^{[bh] 13} The silver brought to the Lord’s temple was not used for silver bowls, trimming shears, basins, trumpets, or any kind of gold or silver implements. ¹⁴ It was handed over^[bi] to the foremen who used it to repair the Lord’s temple. ¹⁵ They did not audit the treasurers who disbursed^[bj] the funds to the foremen, for they were honest.^{[bk] 16} (The silver collected in conjunction with reparation offerings and sin offerings was not brought to the Lord’s temple; it belonged to the priests.)

¹⁷ At that time King Hazael of Syria attacked^[bl] Gath and captured it. Hazael then decided to attack Jerusalem.^{[bm] 18} King Jehoash of Judah collected all the sacred items that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had consecrated, as well as his own sacred items and all the gold that could be found in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the royal palace. He sent it all^[bn] to King Hazael of Syria, who then withdrew^[bo] from Jerusalem.

¹⁹ The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.^{[bp] 20} His servants conspired against him^[bq] and murdered Joash at Beth Millo, on the road that goes down to Silla.^{[br] 21} His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer murdered him.^[bs] He was buried^[bt] with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah replaced him as king.

Paul at Corinth

18 After this^[a] Paul^[b] departed from^[c] Athens and went to Corinth.^{[d] 2} There he^[e] found^[f] a Jew named Aquila,^[g] a native of Pontus,^[h] who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius^[i] had ordered all the Jews to depart from^[j] Rome. Paul approached^[k] them, ³ and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them^[l] (for they were tentmakers^[m] by trade).^{[n] 4} He addressed^[o] both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue^[p] every Sabbath, attempting to persuade^[q] them.

⁵ Now when Silas and Timothy arrived^[r] from Macedonia,^[s] Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming^[t] the word, testifying^[u] to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.^{[v] 6} When they opposed him^[w] and reviled him,^[x] he protested by shaking out his clothes^[y] and said to them, “Your blood^[z] be on your own heads! I am guiltless!^[aa] From now on I will go to the Gentiles!” ⁷ Then Paul^[ab] left^[ac] the synagogue^[ad] and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God,^[ae] whose house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the president of the synagogue,^[af] believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it^[ag] believed and were baptized. ⁹ The Lord said to Paul by a vision^[ah] in the night,^[ai] “Do not be afraid,^[aj] but speak and do not be silent, ¹⁰ because I am with you, and no one will assault^[ak] you to harm^[al] you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So he stayed there^[am] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.^[an]

Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio

¹² Now while Gallio^[ao] was proconsul^[ap] of Achaia,^[aq] the Jews attacked Paul together^[ar] and brought him before the judgment seat,^{[as] 13} saying, “This man is persuading^[at] people to worship God in a way contrary to^[au] the law!” ¹⁴ But just as Paul was about to speak,^[av] Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy,^[aw] I would have been justified in accepting the complaint^[ax] of you Jews,^{[ay] 15} but since it concerns points of disagreement^[az] about words and names and your own law, settle^[ba] it yourselves. I will not be^[bb] a judge of these things!” ¹⁶ Then he had them forced away^[bc] from the judgment seat.^{[bd] 17} So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue,^[be] and began to beat^[bf] him in front of the judgment seat.^[bg] Yet none of these things were of any concern^[bh] to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria

¹⁸ Paul, after staying^[bi] many more days in Corinth, said farewell to^[bj] the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by^[bk] Priscilla and Aquila.^[bl] He^[bm] had his hair cut off^[bn] at Cenchrea^[bo] because he had made a vow.^{[bp] 19} When they reached Ephesus,^[bq] Paul^[br] left Priscilla and Aquila^[bs] behind there, but he himself went^[bt] into the synagogue^[bu] and addressed^[bv] the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,^{[bw] 21} but said farewell to^[bx] them and added,^[by] “I will come back^[bz] to you again if God wills.”^[ca] Then^[cb] he set sail from Ephesus, ²² and when he arrived^[cc] at Caesarea,^[cd] he went up and greeted^[ce] the church at Jerusalem^[cf] and then went down to Antioch.^[cg]

Psalm 145^[a]

A psalm of praise; by David.

¹⁴ Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.

Jehu the Assassin

Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army,^[a] guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria. ¹⁵ But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians^[b] when he fought against King Hazael of Syria.^[c] Jehu told his supporters,^[d] “If you really want me to be king,^[e] then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.” ¹⁶ Jehu drove his chariot^[f] to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating^[g] there. (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit^[h] Joram.)

¹⁷ Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching.^[i] He said, “I see troops!”^[j] Joram^[k] ordered,^[l] “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, ‘Is everything all right?’”^{[m] 18} So the horseman^[n] went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’”^[o] Jehu replied, “None of your business!^[p] Follow me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.” ¹⁹ So he sent a second horseman out to them^[q] and he said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’”^[r] Jehu replied, “None of your business! Follow me.” ²⁰ The watchman reported, “He reached them, but hasn’t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi;^[s] he drives recklessly.” ²¹ Joram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.”^[t] When his chariot had been hitched up,^[u] King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots^[v] to meet Jehu. They met up with him^[w] in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.

²² When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?” He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?”^{[x] 23} Joram turned his chariot around and took off.^[y] He said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap,^[z] Ahaziah!” ²⁴ Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Joram’s shoulders.^[aa] The arrow went through^[ab] his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. ²⁵ Jehu ordered^[ac] his officer Bidkar, “Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Remember, you and I were riding together behind his father, Ahab, when the Lord pronounced this oracle against him, ²⁶ ‘“Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday,” says the Lord, “and that I will give you what you deserve^[ad] right here in this plot of land,” says the Lord.’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as in the Lord’s message.”

²⁷ When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off^[ae] up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered, “Shoot him too.” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam.^[af] He fled to Megiddo and died there. ²⁸ His servants took his body^[ag] back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. ²⁹ Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.

³⁰ Jehu approached Jezreel. When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner,^[ah] fixed up her hair, and leaned out the window. ³¹ When Jehu came through the gate, she said, “Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?”^{[ai] 32} He looked up at the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three^[aj] eunuchs looked down at him. ³³ He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground,^[ak] her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her.^{[al] 34} He went inside and had a meal.^[am] Then he said, “Dispose of this accursed woman’s corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king’s daughter.”^{[an] 35} But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but^[ao] the skull, feet, and palms of the hands. ³⁶ So they went back and told him. Then he said, “It is the fulfillment of the Lord’s message^[ap] that he had spoken through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. ³⁷ Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel. People will not be able to even recognize her.’”^[aq]

Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Family

10 Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said,^{[ar] 2} “You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives,^{[as] 3} pick the best and most capable^[at] of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and defend^[au] your master’s dynasty.”

⁴ They were absolutely terrified^[av] and said, “Look, two kings could not stop him!^[aw] How can we?”^{[ax] 5} So the palace supervisor,^[ay] the city commissioner,^[az] the leaders,^[ba] and the guardians sent this message to Jehu, “We are your subjects!^[bb] Whatever you say, we will do. We will not make anyone king. Do what you consider proper.”^[bc]

⁶ He wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me,^[bd] then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.”^[be] Now the king had seventy sons, and the prominent men^[bf] of the city were raising them. ⁷ When they received the letter, they seized the king’s sons and executed all seventy of them.^[bg] They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. ⁸ The messenger came and told Jehu,^[bh] “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” Jehu^[bi] said, “Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.” ⁹ In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men? ¹⁰ Therefore take note that not one of the Lord’s words which he pronounced against Ahab’s dynasty^[bj] will fail to materialize.^[bk] The Lord has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.”^{[bl] 11} Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors.

¹² Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria.^[bm] While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds, ¹³ Jehu encountered^[bn] the relatives^[bo] of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We have come down to see how^[bp] the king’s sons and the queen mother’s sons are doing.” ¹⁴ He said, “Capture them alive!” So they captured them alive and then executed all forty-two of them by the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors.

¹⁵ When he left there, he met^[bq] Jehonadab son of Rekab who had been looking for him.^[br] Jehu greeted him and asked,^[bs] “Are you as committed to me as I am to you?”^[bt] Jehonadab answered, “I am!” Jehu replied, “If so, give me your hand.”^[bu] So he offered his hand and Jehu^[bv] pulled him up into the chariot. ¹⁶ Jehu^[bw] said, “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.”^[bx] So he^[by] took him along in his chariot. ¹⁷ He went to Samaria and killed each of Ahab’s remaining family members who were in Samaria until he destroyed them,^[bz] in keeping with the Lord’s message which he had announced to Elijah.

Jehu Executes the Prophets and Priests of Baal

¹⁸ Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped^[ca] Baal a little; Jehu will worship^[cb] him with great devotion.^{[cc] 19} So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests.^[cd] None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fails to appear will lose his life.” But Jehu was tricking them^[ce] so he could destroy the servants of Baal. ²⁰ Then Jehu ordered, “Make arrangements for^[cf] a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it. ²¹ Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end.^{[cg] 22} Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe,^[ch] “Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. ²³ Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu^[ci] said to the servants of Baal, “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.”^{[cj] 24} They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside. He had told them, “If any of the men inside gets away, you will pay with your lives!”^[ck]

²⁵ When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard^[cl] and officers, “Come in and strike them down! Don’t let any escape!” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there.^[cm] Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal.^{[cn] 26} They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. ²⁷ They demolished^[co] the sacred pillar of Baal and^[cp] the temple of Baal; it is used as^[cq] a latrine^[cr] to this very day. ²⁸ So Jehu eradicated Baal worship^[cs] from Israel.

A Summary of Jehu’s Reign

²⁹ However, Jehu did not repudiate the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had encouraged Israel to commit; the golden calves remained in Bethel and Dan.^{[ct] 30} The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have accomplished my will and carried out my wishes with regard to Ahab’s dynasty. Therefore four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel.”^{[cu] 31} But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the Lord God of Israel.^[cv] He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.^[cw]

Paul and Silas at Thessalonica

17 After they traveled through^[a] Amphipolis^[b] and Apollonia,^[c] they came to Thessalonica,^[d] where there was a Jewish synagogue.^{[e] 2} Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue,^[f] as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed^[g] them from the scriptures, ³ explaining and demonstrating^[h] that the Christ^[i] had to suffer and to rise from the dead,^[j] saying,^[k] “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”^{[l] 4} Some of them were persuaded^[m] and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group^[n] of God-fearing Greeks^[o] and quite a few^[p] prominent women. ⁵ But the Jews became jealous,^[q] and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace,^[r] they formed a mob^[s] and set the city in an uproar.^[t] They attacked Jason’s house,^[u] trying to find Paul and Silas^[v] to bring them out to the assembly.^{[w] 6} When they did not find them, they dragged^[x] Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials,^[y] screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble^[z] throughout the world^[aa] have come here too, ⁷ and^[ab] Jason has welcomed them as guests! They^[ac] are all acting against Caesar’s^[ad] decrees, saying there is another king named^[ae] Jesus!”^{[af] 8} They caused confusion among^[ag] the crowd and the city officials^[ah] who heard these things. ⁹ After^[ai] the city officials^[aj] had received bail^[ak] from Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul and Silas at Berea

¹⁰ The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea^[al] at once, during the night. When they arrived,^[am] they went to the Jewish synagogue.^{[an] 11} These Jews^[ao] were more open-minded^[ap] than those in Thessalonica,^[aq] for they eagerly^[ar] received^[as] the message, examining^[at] the scriptures carefully every day^[au] to see if these things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few^[av] prominent^[aw] Greek women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica^[ax] heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God^[ay] in Berea, they came there too, inciting^[az] and disturbing^[ba] the crowds. ¹⁴ Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast^[bb] at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.^{[bc] 15} Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.^[bd]

Paul at Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset^[be] because he saw^[bf] the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he was addressing^[bg] the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles^[bh] in the synagogue,^[bi] and in the marketplace^[bj] every day^[bk] those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ Also some of the Epicurean^[bl] and Stoic^[bm] philosophers were conversing^[bn] with him, and some were asking,^[bo] “What does this foolish babbler^[bp] want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.”^[bq] (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)^{[br] 19} So they took Paul and^[bs] brought him to the Areopagus,^[bt] saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? ²⁰ For you are bringing some surprising things^[bu] to our ears, so we want to know what they^[bv] mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time^[bw] in nothing else than telling^[bx] or listening to something new.)^[by]

²² So Paul stood^[bz] before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious^[ca] in all respects.^{[cb] 23} For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship,^[cc] I even found an altar with this inscription:^[cd] ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it,^[ce] this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it,^[cf] who is^[cg] Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,^{[ch] 25} nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything,^[ci] because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.^{[cj] 26} From one man^[ck] he made every nation of the human race^[cl] to inhabit the entire earth,^[cm] determining their set times^[cn] and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,^{[co] 27} so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around^[cp] for him and find him,^[cq] though he is^[cr] not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For in him we live and move about^[cs] and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’^{[ct] 29} So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity^[cu] is like gold or silver or stone, an image^[cv] made by human^[cw] skill^[cx] and imagination.^{[cy] 30} Therefore, although God has overlooked^[cz] such times of ignorance,^[da] he now commands all people^[db] everywhere to repent,^{[dc] 31} because he has set^[dd] a day on which he is going to judge the world^[de] in righteousness, by a man whom he designated,^[df] having provided proof to everyone by raising^[dg] him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard about^[dh] the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff,^[di] but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” ³³ So Paul left the Areopagus.^{[dj] 34} But some people^[dk] joined him^[dl] and believed. Among them^[dm] were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus,^[dn] a woman^[do] named Damaris, and others with them.