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Hezekiah’s Illness^(A)

20 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

² Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Remember,^(B) Lord, how I have walked^(C) before you faithfully^(D) and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

⁴ Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: ⁵ “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard^(E) your prayer and seen your tears;^(F) I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend^(G) this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

⁷ Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil,^(H) and he recovered.

⁸ Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?”

⁹ Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign^(I) to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?”

¹⁰ “It is a simple^(J) matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”

¹¹ Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back^(K) the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

Envoys From Babylon^(L)(M)

¹² At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. ¹³ Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

¹⁴ Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”

“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came from Babylon.”

¹⁵ The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

¹⁶ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁷ The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.^(N) Nothing will be left, says the Lord. ¹⁸ And some of your descendants,^(O) your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”^(P)

¹⁹ “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?”

²⁰ As for the other events of Hezekiah’s reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool^(Q) and the tunnel^(R) by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²¹ Hezekiah rested with his ancestors. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

Manasseh King of Judah^(S)(T)

21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.^{(U) 2} He did evil^(V) in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices^(W) of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ³ He rebuilt the high places^(X) his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal^(Y) and made an Asherah pole,^(Z) as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts^(AA) and worshiped them. ⁴ He built altars^(AB) in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.”^{(AC) 5} In the two courts^(AD) of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶ He sacrificed his own son^(AE) in the fire, practiced divination,^(AF) sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists.^(AG) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing^(AH) his anger.

⁷ He took the carved Asherah pole^(AI) he had made and put it in the temple,^(AJ) of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name^(AK) forever. ⁸ I will not again^(AL) make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses^(AM) gave them.” ⁹ But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil^(AN) than the nations^(AO) the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

¹⁰ The Lord said through his servants the prophets: ¹¹ “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil^(AP) than the Amorites^(AQ) who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols.^{(AR) 12} Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster^(AS) on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.^{(AT) 13} I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line^(AU) used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe^(AV) out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ¹⁴ I will forsake^(AW) the remnant^(AX) of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; ¹⁵ they have done evil^(AY) in my eyes and have aroused^(AZ) my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”

¹⁶ Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood^(BA) that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah^(BB) to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

¹⁷ As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ¹⁸ Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden,^(BC) the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah^(BD)

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. ²⁰ He did evil^(BE) in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. ²¹ He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. ²² He forsook^(BF) the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk^(BG) in obedience to him.

²³ Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated^(BH) the king in his palace. ²⁴ Then the people of the land killed^(BI) all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah^(BJ) his son king in his place.

²⁵ As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁶ He was buried in his tomb in the garden^(BK) of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

The Book of the Law Found^(BL)

22 Josiah^(BM) was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.^{(BN) 2} He did what was right^(BO) in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right^(BP) or to the left.

¹⁸ The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(A) and all the elders^(B) were present. ¹⁹ Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles^(C) through his ministry.^(D)

²⁰ When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous^(E) for the law.^{(F) 21} They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,^(G) telling them not to circumcise their children^(H) or live according to our customs.^{(I) 22} What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, ²³ so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.^{(J) 24} Take these men, join in their purification rites^(K) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.^(L) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. ²⁵ As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”^(M)

²⁶ The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.^(N)

Paul Arrested

²⁷ When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,^{(O) 28} shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”^{(P) 29} (They had previously seen Trophimus^(Q) the Ephesian^(R) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

³⁰ The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,^(S) they dragged him^(T) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.^(U)

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound^(V) with two^(W) chains.^(X) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,^(Y) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.^{(Z) 35} When Paul reached the steps,^(AA) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”^(AB)

Psalm 150

¹³ In the fourteenth year^(A) of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah^(B) and captured them. ¹⁴ So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish:^(C) “I have done wrong.^(D) Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents^[a] of silver and thirty talents^[b] of gold. ¹⁵ So Hezekiah gave^(E) him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

¹⁶ At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors^(F) and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem^(G)(H)

¹⁷ The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,^(I) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,^(J) on the road to the Washerman’s Field. ¹⁸ They called for the king; and Eliakim^(K) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna^(L) the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

¹⁹ The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

²⁶ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,^(R) since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

²⁷ But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

²⁸ Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! ²⁹ This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive^(S) you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. ³⁰ Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

³¹ “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree^(T) and drink water from your own cistern,^{(U) 32} until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life^(V) and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ ³³ Has the god^(W) of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? ³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath^(X) and Arpad?^(Y) Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? ³⁵ Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”^(Z)

³⁶ But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

³⁷ Then Eliakim^(AA) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn,^(AB) and told him what the field commander had said.

Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold^(AC)

19 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore^(AD) his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. ² He sent Eliakim^(AE) the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests,^(AF) all wearing sackcloth,^(AG) to the prophet Isaiah^(AH) son of Amoz. ³ They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment^(AI) of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴ It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule^(AJ) the living God, and that he will rebuke^(AK) him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant^(AL) that still survives.”

⁵ When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, ⁶ Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid^(AM) of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed^(AN) me. ⁷ Listen! When he hears a certain report,^(AO) I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.^(AP)’”

⁸ When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish,^(AQ) he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.^(AR)

⁹ Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush,^[d] was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: ¹⁰ “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend^(AS) on deceive^(AT) you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ ¹¹ Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? ¹² Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver^(AU) them—the gods of Gozan,^(AV) Harran,^(AW) Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? ¹³ Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”^(AX)

Hezekiah’s Prayer^(AY)

¹⁴ Hezekiah received the letter^(AZ) from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim,^(BA) you alone^(BB) are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ Give ear,^(BC) Lord, and hear;^(BD) open your eyes,^(BE) Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

¹⁷ “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. ¹⁸ They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods^(BF) but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.^{(BG) 19} Now, Lord our God, deliver^(BH) us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms^(BI) of the earth may know^(BJ) that you alone, Lord, are God.”

Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall^(BK)(BL)

²⁰ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard^(BM) your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. ²¹ This is the word that the Lord has spoken against^(BN) him:

²⁹ “This will be the sign^(CI) for you, Hezekiah:

“The zeal^(CP) of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

³² “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

³⁵ That night the angel of the Lord^(CT) went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!^{(CU) 36} So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew.^(CV) He returned to Nineveh^(CW) and stayed there.

³⁷ One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek^(CX) and Sharezer killed him with the sword,^(CY) and they escaped to the land of Ararat.^(CZ) And Esarhaddon^(DA) his son succeeded him as king.

On to Jerusalem

21 After we^(A) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,^(B) went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.^(C) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples^(D) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit^(E) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.^{(F) 6} After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre^(G) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters^(H) and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea^(I) and stayed at the house of Philip^(J) the evangelist,^(K) one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.^(L)

¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus^(M) came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,^(N) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind^(O) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”^(P)

¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die^(Q) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”^{(R) 14} When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up^(S) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”^(T)

¹⁵ After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.^{(U) 16} Some of the disciples from Caesarea^(V) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus^(W) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

¹⁷ When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters^(X) received us warmly.^(Y)

Psalm 149

Hoshea Last King of Israel^(A)

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea^(B) son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. ² He did evil^(C) in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

³ Shalmaneser^(D) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.^{(E) 4} But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So^[a] king of Egypt,^(F) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.^{(G) 5} The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege^(H) to it for three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria^(I) captured Samaria^(J) and deported^(K) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan^(L) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

⁷ All this took place because the Israelites had sinned^(M) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt^(N) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods ⁸ and followed the practices of the nations^(O) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. ⁹ The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city^(P) they built themselves high places in all their towns. ¹⁰ They set up sacred stones^(Q) and Asherah poles^(R) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^{(S) 11} At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. ¹² They worshiped idols,^(T) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”^{[b] 13} The Lord warned^(U) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:^(V) “Turn from your evil ways.^(W) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”^(X)

¹⁴ But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked^(Y) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ They rejected his decrees and the covenant^(Z) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols^(AA) and themselves became worthless.^(AB) They imitated the nations^(AC) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

¹⁶ They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,^(AD) and an Asherah^(AE) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,^(AF) and they worshiped Baal.^{(AG) 17} They sacrificed^(AH) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens^(AI) and sold^(AJ) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

¹⁸ So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.^(AK) Only the tribe of Judah was left, ¹⁹ and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.^{(AL) 20} Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,^(AM) until he thrust them from his presence.^(AN)

²¹ When he tore^(AO) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.^(AP) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.^{(AQ) 22} The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them ²³ until the Lord removed them from his presence,^(AR) as he had warned^(AS) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland^(AT) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

²⁴ The king of Assyria^(AU) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim^(AV) and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. ²⁵ When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions^(AW) among them and they killed some of the people. ²⁶ It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” ²⁸ So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

²⁹ Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns^(AX) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines^(AY) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.^{(AZ) 30} The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; ³¹ the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek^(BA) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.^{(BB) 32} They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts^(BC) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. ³³ They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

³⁴ To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.^{(BD) 35} When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship^(BE) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.^{(BF) 36} But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,^(BG) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. ³⁷ You must always be careful^(BH) to keep the decrees^(BI) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget^(BJ) the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. ³⁹ Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

⁴⁰ They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. ⁴¹ Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,^(BK) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Hezekiah King of Judah^(BL)(BM)(BN)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah^(BO) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.^(BP) His mother’s name was Abijah^[c] daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right^(BQ) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David^(BR) had done. ⁴ He removed^(BS) the high places,^(BT) smashed the sacred stones^(BU) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake^(BV) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.^[d])

⁵ Hezekiah trusted^(BW) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. ⁶ He held fast^(BX) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. ⁷ And the Lord was with him; he was successful^(BY) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled^(BZ) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸ From watchtower to fortified city,^(CA) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

⁹ In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,^(CB) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. ¹⁰ At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. ¹¹ The king^(CC) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.^{(CD) 12} This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant^(CE)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.^(CF) They neither listened to the commands^(CG) nor carried them out.

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples^(A) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.^{(B) 2} He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³ where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him^(C) just as he was about to sail for Syria,^(D) he decided to go back through Macedonia.^{(E) 4} He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus^(F) and Secundus from Thessalonica,^(G) Gaius^(H) from Derbe, Timothy^(I) also, and Tychicus^(J) and Trophimus^(K) from the province of Asia.^{(L) 5} These men went on ahead and waited for us^(M) at Troas.^{(N) 6} But we sailed from Philippi^(O) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,^(P) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

⁷ On the first day of the week^(Q) we came together to break bread.^(R) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room^(S) where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man^(T) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”^{(U) 11} Then he went upstairs again and broke bread^(V) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.^{(W) 16} Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus^(X) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,^(Y) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,^(Z) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.^(AA)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(AB) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(AC) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(AD) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(AE) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(AF) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(AG) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(AH) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(AI) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(AJ) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(AK)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(AL) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(AM) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(AN) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(AO) my only aim is to finish the race^(AP) and complete the task^(AQ) the Lord Jesus has given me^(AR)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(AS)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(AT) will ever see me again.^{(AU) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(AV) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(AW) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(AX) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(AY) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](AZ) which he bought^(BA) with his own blood.^{[b](BB) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(BC) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(BD) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(BE) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(BF) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(BG)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(BH) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(BI) among all those who are sanctified.^{(BJ) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(BK) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(BL) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^{(BM) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(BN) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(BO) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(BP)

Psalm 148

Azariah King of Judah^(A)

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah^[a](B) son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. ² He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right^(C) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁵ The Lord afflicted^(D) the king with leprosy^[b] until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.^[c](E) Jotham^(F) the king’s son had charge of the palace^(G) and governed the people of the land.

⁶ As for the other events of Azariah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ⁷ Azariah rested^(H) with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham^(I) his son succeeded him as king.

Zechariah King of Israel

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. ⁹ He did evil^(J) in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people,^[d] assassinated^(K) him and succeeded him as king. ¹¹ The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals^(L) of the kings of Israel. ¹² So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:^(M) “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”^[e]

Shallum King of Israel

¹³ Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria^(N) one month. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah^(O) up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated^(P) him and succeeded him as king.

¹⁵ The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals^(Q) of the kings of Israel.

¹⁶ At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah^(R) and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open^(S) their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem King of Israel

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. ¹⁸ He did evil^(T) in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

¹⁹ Then Pul^[f](U) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents^[g] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. ²⁰ Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels^[h] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew^(V) and stayed in the land no longer.

²¹ As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ²² Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.

Pekahiah King of Israel

²³ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. ²⁴ Pekahiah did evil^(W) in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. ²⁵ One of his chief officers, Pekah^(X) son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated^(Y) Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.

²⁶ The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.

Pekah King of Israel

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah^(Z) son of Remaliah^(AA) became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. ²⁸ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹ In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser^(AB) king of Assyria came and took Ijon,^(AC) Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,^(AD) and deported^(AE) the people to Assyria. ³⁰ Then Hoshea^(AF) son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated^(AG) him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals^(AH) of the kings of Israel?

Jotham King of Judah^(AI)

³² In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham^(AJ) son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. ³³ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what was right^(AK) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. ³⁵ The high places,^(AL) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate^(AM) of the temple of the Lord.

³⁶ As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ³⁷ (In those days the Lord began to send Rezin^(AN) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) ³⁸ Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaz King of Judah^(AO)

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz^(AP) son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right^(AQ) in the eyes of the Lord his God. ³ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel^(AR) and even sacrificed his son^(AS) in the fire, engaging in the detestable^(AT) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense^(AU) at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.^(AV)

⁵ Then Rezin^(AW) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. ⁶ At that time, Rezin^(AX) king of Aram recovered Elath^(AY) for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

⁷ Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser^(AZ) king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save^(BA) me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” ⁸ And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift^(BB) to the king of Assyria. ⁹ The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus^(BC) and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir^(BD) and put Rezin to death.

¹⁰ Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah^(BE) the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. ¹¹ So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. ¹² When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings^[i](BF) on it. ¹³ He offered up his burnt offering^(BG) and grain offering,^(BH) poured out his drink offering,^(BI) and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings^(BJ) against the altar. ¹⁴ As for the bronze altar^(BK) that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

¹⁵ King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning^(BL) burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.”^{(BM) 16} And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

¹⁷ King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base.^{(BN) 18} He took away the Sabbath canopy^[j] that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria.^(BO)

¹⁹ As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁰ Ahaz rested^(BP) with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits^(A) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus^(B) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

¹⁷ When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,^(C) they were all seized with fear,^(D) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. ¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.^{[a] 20} In this way the word of the Lord^(E) spread widely and grew in power.^(F)

²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided^[b] to go to Jerusalem,^(G) passing through Macedonia^(H) and Achaia.^(I) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”^{(J) 22} He sent two of his helpers,^(K) Timothy^(L) and Erastus,^(M) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia^(N) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^{(O) 24} A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.^{(P) 26} And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^(Q) and in practically the whole province of Asia.^(R) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^{(S) 27} There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^{(T) 29} Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^(U) and Aristarchus,^(V) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^(W) and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples^(X) would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.^(Y) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned^(Z) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(AA)

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^(AB) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples^(AC) nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^(AD) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^(AE) They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Psalm 147

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. ² He did evil^(A) in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. ³ So the Lord’s anger^(B) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power^(C) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad^(D) his son.

⁴ Then Jehoahaz sought^(E) the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw^(F) how severely the king of Aram was oppressing^(G) Israel. ⁵ The Lord provided a deliverer^(H) for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. ⁶ But they did not turn away from the sins^(I) of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole^[a](J) remained standing in Samaria.

⁷ Nothing had been left^(K) of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust^(L) at threshing time.

⁸ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ⁹ Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash^[b] his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoash King of Israel

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. ¹¹ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.

¹² As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah^(M) king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals^(N) of the kings of Israel? ¹³ Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam^(O) succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

¹⁴ Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots^(P) and horsemen of Israel!”

¹⁵ Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,”^(Q) and he did so. ¹⁶ “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

¹⁷ “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!”^(R) Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”^(S)

¹⁸ Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”^(T)

²⁰ Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raiders^(U) used to enter the country every spring. ²¹ Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life^(V) and stood up on his feet.

²² Hazael king of Aram oppressed^(W) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. ²³ But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant^(X) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy^(Y) them or banish them from his presence.^(Z)

²⁴ Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad^(AA) his son succeeded him as king. ²⁵ Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times^(AB) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered^(AC) the Israelite towns.

Amaziah King of Judah^(AD)(AE)

14 In the second year of Jehoash^[c] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. ⁴ The high places,^(AF) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁵ After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed^(AG) the officials^(AH) who had murdered his father the king. ⁶ Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law^(AI) of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”^[d](AJ)

⁷ He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt^(AK) and captured Sela^(AL) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle^(AM) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.^(AN) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

¹¹ Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh^(AO) in Judah. ¹² Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.^{(AP) 13} Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall^(AQ) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate^(AR) to the Corner Gate^(AS)—a section about four hundred cubits long.^{[e] 14} He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

¹⁵ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war^(AT) against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶ Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

¹⁷ Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. ¹⁸ As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

¹⁹ They conspired^(AU) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,^(AV) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁰ He was brought back by horse^(AW) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[f](AX) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He was the one who rebuilt Elath^(AY) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II King of Israel

²³ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam^(AZ) son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.^{(BA) 25} He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath^(BB) to the Dead Sea,^[g](BC) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah^(BD) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

²⁶ The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free,^(BE) was suffering;^[h](BF) there was no one to help them.^{(BG) 27} And since the Lord had not said he would blot out^(BH) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved^(BI) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁸ As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus^(BJ) and Hamath,^(BK) which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals^(BL) of the kings of Israel? ²⁹ Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia^(A) and Phrygia,^(B) strengthening all the disciples.^(C)

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(D) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(E) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a](F) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^{(G) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(H) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(I) the brothers and sisters^(J) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(K) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(L)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(M) was at Corinth,^(N) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(O) There he found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit^(P) when^[b] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(Q) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^{(R) 5} On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(S) 6} When Paul placed his hands on them,^(T) the Holy Spirit came on them,^(U) and they spoke in tongues^[c](V) and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue^(W) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^{(X) 9} But some of them^(Y) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(Z) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(AA) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years,^(AB) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia^(AC) heard the word of the Lord.^(AD)

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles^(AE) through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured^(AF) and the evil spirits left them.

Psalm 146

³² In those days the Lord began to reduce^(A) the size of Israel. Hazael^(B) overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory ³³ east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer^(C) by the Arnon^(D) Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.

³⁴ As for the other events of Jehu’s reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals^(E) of the kings of Israel?

³⁵ Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king. ³⁶ The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Athaliah and Joash^(F)

11 When Athaliah^(G) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. ² But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram^[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash^(H) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.^{(I) 3} He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

⁴ In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites^(J) and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. ⁵ He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath^(K)—a third of you guarding the royal palace,^{(L) 6} a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— ⁷ and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. ⁸ Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks^[b] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

⁹ The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. ¹⁰ Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields^(M) that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. ¹¹ The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

¹² Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant^(N) and proclaimed him king. They anointed^(O) him, and the people clapped their hands^(P) and shouted, “Long live the king!”^(Q)

¹³ When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. ¹⁴ She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar,^(R) as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.^(S) Then Athaliah tore^(T) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”^(U)

¹⁵ Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks^[c] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple^(V) of the Lord.” ¹⁶ So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter^(W) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.^(X)

¹⁷ Jehoiada then made a covenant^(Y) between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.^{(Z) 18} All the people of the land went to the temple^(AA) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed^(AB) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest^(AC) of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. ¹⁹ He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,^(AD) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. ²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced,^(AE) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

²¹ Joash^[d] was seven years old when he began to reign.^[e]

Joash Repairs the Temple^(AF)

12 ^[f]In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash^[g](AG) became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. ² Joash did what was right^(AH) in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ³ The high places,^(AI) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁴ Joash said to the priests, “Collect^(AJ) all the money that is brought as sacred offerings^(AK) to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census,^(AL) the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily^(AM) to the temple. ⁵ Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair^(AN) whatever damage is found in the temple.”

⁶ But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. ⁷ Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” ⁸ The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

⁹ Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priests who guarded the entrance^(AO) put into the chest all the money^(AP) that was brought to the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary^(AQ) and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord and put it into bags. ¹¹ When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the Lord—the carpenters and builders, ¹² the masons and stonecutters.^(AR) They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the Lord, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.

¹³ The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold^(AS) or silver for the temple of the Lord; ¹⁴ it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. ¹⁵ They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.^{(AT) 16} The money from the guilt offerings^(AU) and sin offerings^[h](AV) was not brought into the temple of the Lord; it belonged^(AW) to the priests.

¹⁷ About this time Hazael^(AX) king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. ¹⁸ But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his predecessors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and he sent^(AY) them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew^(AZ) from Jerusalem.

¹⁹ As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁰ His officials^(BA) conspired against him and assassinated^(BB) him at Beth Millo,^(BC) on the road down to Silla. ²¹ The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens^(A) and went to Corinth.^{(B) 2} There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,^(C) because Claudius^(D) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.^{(E) 4} Every Sabbath^(F) he reasoned in the synagogue,^(G) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas^(H) and Timothy^(I) came from Macedonia,^(J) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.^{(K) 6} But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,^(L) he shook out his clothes in protest^(M) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!^(N) I am innocent of it.^(O) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”^(P)

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.^{(Q) 8} Crispus,^(R) the synagogue leader,^(S) and his entire household^(T) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:^(U) “Do not be afraid;^(V) keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you,^(W) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.^(X)

¹² While Gallio was proconsul^(Y) of Achaia,^(Z) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law^(AA)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes^(AB) the synagogue leader^(AC) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(AD) and sailed for Syria,^(AE) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(AF) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(AG) because of a vow he had taken.^{(AH) 19} They arrived at Ephesus,^(AI) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”^(AJ) Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea,^(AK) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.^(AL)

Psalm 145^[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah

^14-16 King Joram^[a] of Israel had been badly wounded in the battle at Ramoth, trying to defend it against King Hazael and the Syrian army. Joram was now recovering in Jezreel, and King Ahaziah of Judah was there, visiting him.

Meanwhile, Jehu was in Ramoth, making plans to kill Joram. He said to his officers, “If you want me to be king, then don’t let anyone leave this town. They might go to Jezreel and tell Joram.” Then Jehu got in his chariot and rode to Jezreel.

¹⁷ When the guard in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men riding up, he shouted to the king, “I see a bunch of men coming this way.”

Joram ordered, “Send someone out to ask them if this is a friendly visit.”

¹⁸ One of the soldiers rode out and said to Jehu, “King Joram wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”

“What’s it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just stay behind me with the rest of my troops!”

About the same time the guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn’t coming back.”

¹⁹ So Joram sent out another rider, who rode up to Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”

“What’s it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just get behind me with the rest of my troops!”

²⁰ The guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn’t coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!”

²¹ Joram commanded, “Get my chariot ready.” Then he and Ahaziah got in their chariots and rode out to meet Jehu. They all met on the land that had belonged to Naboth.^{[b] 22} Joram asked, “Jehu, is this a peaceful visit?”

“How can there be peace?” Jehu asked. “Your mother Jezebel has caused everyone to worship idols and practice witchcraft.”

²³ “Ahaziah, let’s get out of here!” Joram yelled. “It’s a trap!” As Joram tried to escape, ²⁴ Jehu shot an arrow. It hit Joram between his shoulders, then it went through his heart and came out his chest. He fell over dead in his chariot.

^25-26 Jehu commanded his assistant Bidkar, “Get Joram’s body and throw it in the field that Naboth once owned. Do you remember when you and I used to ride side by side behind Joram’s father Ahab? It was then that the Lord swore to Ahab that he would be punished in the same field where he had killed Naboth and his sons. So throw Joram’s body there, just as the Lord said.”

²⁷ Ahaziah saw all of this happen and tried to escape to the town of Beth-Haggan, but Jehu caught up with him and shouted, “Kill him too!” So his troops shot Ahaziah with an arrow while he was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. He went as far as Megiddo, where he died. ²⁸ Ahaziah’s officers put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried him beside his ancestors.

²⁹ Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year of the rule of Ahab’s son Joram.

Jehu Kills Jezebel

³⁰ Jehu headed toward Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive. ³¹ As he walked through the city gate, she shouted down to him, “Why did you come here, you murderer? To kill the king? You’re no better than Zimri!”^[c]

³² He looked up toward the window and asked, “Is anyone up there on my side?” A few palace workers stuck their heads out of a window, ³³ and Jehu shouted, “Throw her out the window!” They threw her down, and her blood splattered on the walls and on the horses that trampled her body.^[d]

³⁴ Jehu left to get something to eat and drink. Then he told some workers, “Even though she was evil, she was a king’s daughter,^[e] so make sure she has a proper burial.”

³⁵ But when they went out to bury her body, they found only her skull, her hands, and her feet. ³⁶ They reported this to Jehu, and he said, “The Lord told Elijah the prophet that Jezebel’s body would be eaten by dogs right here in Jezreel. ³⁷ And he warned that her bones would be spread all over the ground like manure, so that no one could tell who it was.”

Jehu Kills All of Ahab’s Descendants

10 Ahab still had seventy descendants living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote a letter to each of the important leaders and officials of the town,^[f] and to those who supported Ahab. In the letters he wrote:

⁴ The officials and leaders read the letters and were very frightened. They said to each other, “Jehu has already killed King Joram and King Ahaziah! We have to do what he says.” ⁵ The prime minister, the mayor of the city, as well as the other leaders and Ahab’s supporters, sent this answer to Jehu, “We are your servants, Your Majesty, and we will do whatever you tell us. But it’s not our place to choose someone to be king. You do what you think is best.”

⁶ Jehu then wrote another letter which said, “If you are on my side and will obey me, then prove it. Bring me the heads of the descendants of Ahab! And be here in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”

The seventy descendants of King Ahab were living with some of the most important people of the city. ⁷ And when these people read Jehu’s second letter, they called together all seventy of Ahab’s descendants. They killed them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel.

⁸ When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, “Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”

⁹ The next morning, Jehu went out and stood where everyone could hear him, and he said, “You people are not guilty of anything. I’m the one who plotted against Joram and had him killed. But who killed all these men? ¹⁰ Listen to me. Everything the Lord’s servant Elijah promised about Ahab’s family will come true.”^[g]

¹¹ Then Jehu killed the rest of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel, as well as his highest officials, his priests, and his closest friends. No one in Ahab’s family was left alive in Jezreel.

^12-13 Jehu left for Samaria, and along the way, he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah at a place where shepherds meet.^[h] He asked, “Who are you?”

“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered. “We’re going to visit his family.”

¹⁴ “Take them alive!” Jehu said to his officers. So they grabbed them and led them to the well near the shepherds' meeting place, where they killed all forty-two of them.

¹⁵ As Jehu went on, he saw Jehonadab son of Rechab^[i] coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him, then said, “Jehonadab, I’m on your side. Are you on mine?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then give me your hand,” Jehu answered. He helped Jehonadab into his chariot ¹⁶ and said, “Come with me and see how faithful I am to the Lord.”

They rode together in Jehu’s chariot ¹⁷ to Samaria. Jehu killed everyone there who belonged to Ahab’s family, as well as all his officials. Everyone in his family was now dead, just as the Lord had promised Elijah.

Jehu Kills All the Worshipers of Baal

¹⁸ Jehu called together the people in Samaria and said:

But this was a trick—Jehu was really planning to kill the worshipers of Baal. ²⁰ He said, “Announce a day of worship for Baal!” After the day had been announced, ²¹ Jehu sent an invitation to everyone in Israel. All the worshipers of Baal came, and the temple was filled from one end to the other. ²² Jehu told the official in charge of the sacred robes to make sure that everyone had a robe to wear.

²³ Jehu and Jehonadab went into the temple, and Jehu said to the crowd, “Look around and make sure that only the worshipers of Baal are here. No one who worships the Lord is allowed in.” ²⁴ Then they began to offer sacrifices to Baal.

Earlier, Jehu had ordered eighty soldiers to wait outside the temple. He had warned them, “I will get all these worshipers here, and if any of you let even one of them escape, you will be killed instead!”

²⁵ As soon as Jehu finished offering the sacrifice, he told the guards and soldiers, “Come in and kill them! Don’t let anyone escape.” They slaughtered everyone in the crowd and threw the bodies outside. Then they went back into the temple ²⁶ and carried out the image of Baal. They burned it ²⁷ and broke it into pieces, then they completely destroyed Baal’s temple. And since that time, it’s been nothing but a public toilet.^[j]

²⁸ That’s how Jehu stopped the worship of Baal in Israel. ²⁹ But he did not stop the worship of the gold statues of calves at Dan and Bethel that Jeroboam had made for the people to worship.^[k]

³⁰ Later the Lord said, “Jehu, you have done right by destroying Ahab’s entire family, just as I had planned. So I will make sure that the next four kings of Israel will come from your own family.”

³¹ But Jehu did not completely obey the commands of the Lord God of Israel. Instead, he kept doing the sinful things that Jeroboam had caused the Israelites to do.

Trouble in Thessalonica

17 After Paul and his friends had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they went on to Thessalonica. A Jewish meeting place was in that city. ² So as usual, Paul went there to worship, and on three Sabbaths he spoke to the people. He used the Scriptures ³ to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about. ⁴ Some of them believed what Paul had said, and they became followers with Paul and Silas. Some Gentiles^[a] and many important women also believed the message.

⁵ The Jewish leaders were jealous and got some worthless bums who hung around the marketplace to start a riot in the city. They wanted to drag Paul and Silas out to the mob, and so they went straight to Jason’s home. ⁶ But when they did not find them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the Lord’s followers. They took them to the city authorities and shouted, “Paul and Silas have been upsetting things everywhere. Now they have come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his home. All of them break the laws of the Roman Emperor by claiming that someone named Jesus is king.”

⁸ The officials and the people were upset when they heard this. ⁹ So they made Jason and the other followers pay bail before letting them go.

People in Berea Welcome the Message

¹⁰ That same night the Lord’s followers sent Paul and Silas on to Berea, and after they arrived, they went to the Jewish meeting place. ¹¹ The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true. ¹² Many of them put their faith in the Lord, including some important Greek women and several men.

¹³ When the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica heard that Paul had been preaching God’s message in Berea, they went there and caused trouble by turning the crowds against Paul.

¹⁴ Right away the followers sent Paul down to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. ¹⁵ Some men went with Paul as far as Athens, and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city. ¹⁷ He went to the Jewish meeting place to speak to the Jews and to anyone who worshiped with them. Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market. ¹⁸ Some of them were Epicureans^[b] and some were Stoics,^[c] and they started arguing with him.

People were asking, “What is this know-it-all trying to say?”

Some even said, “Paul must be preaching about foreign gods! That’s what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from death.”^[d]

¹⁹ They brought Paul before a council called the Areopagus, and said, “Tell us what your new teaching is all about. ²⁰ We have heard you say some strange things, and we want to know what you mean.”

²¹ More than anything else the people of Athens and the foreigners living there loved to hear and to talk about anything new. ²² So Paul stood up in front of the council and said:

³² As soon as the people heard Paul say that a man had been raised from death, some of them started laughing. Others said, “We will hear you talk about this some other time.” ³³ When Paul left the council meeting, ³⁴ some of the men put their faith in the Lord and went with Paul. One of them was a council member named Dionysius. A woman named Damaris and several others also put their faith in the Lord.

(By David.)

A Prayer for the Nation