Pamela Goodman
Pamela Goodman's Highlights
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 27:1-34 ESV
He shall not exchange it or make a substitute for it, good for bad, or bad for good; and if he does in fact substitute one animal for another, then both it and the substitute shall be holy.And if it is any unclean animal that may not be offered as an offering to the Lord, then he shall stand the animal before the priest,and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall be.But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation."When a man dedicates his house as a holy gift to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.And if the donor wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth to the valuation price, and it shall be his."If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land that is his possession, then the valuation shall be in proportion to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, the valuation shall stand,but if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall calculate the price according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from the valuation.And if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall add a fifth to its valuation price, and it shall remain his. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,But if he does not wish to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore.But the field, when it is released in the jubilee, shall be a holy gift to the Lord, like a field that has been devoted. The priest shall be in possession of it.If he dedicates to the Lord a field that he has bought, which is not a part of his possession,then the priest shall calculate the amount of the valuation for it up to the year of jubilee, and the man shall give the valuation on that day as a holy gift to the Lord.In the year of jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to whom the land belongs as a possession.Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall make a shekel."But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the Lord, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's.And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at the valuation, and add a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at the valuation."But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord.No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death."Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons,"Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it.And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord.One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed."These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.If the person is a female, the valuation shall be thirty shekels.If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, the valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels.If the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver.And if the person is sixty years old or over, then the valuation for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.And if someone is too poor to pay the valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford."If the vow is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the Lord, all of it that he gives to the Lord is holy.
Nov 14
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 26:1-46 ESV
You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new.I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you.And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect."But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments,if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant,then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you.And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins,and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. "You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit."Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted."And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me,then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins.And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.When I break your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven and shall dole out your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied."But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me,then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins.You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you.And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing aromas.And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it.And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste."Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths.As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it.And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none pursues.They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though none pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies.And you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.And those of you who are left shall rot away in your enemies' lands because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them."If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,"But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes.Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God.But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord."These are the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai. then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you.
Nov 14
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 25:1-55 ESV
And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines.For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field."In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.You shall pay your neighbor according to the number of years after the jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops.If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you.You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God."Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,And if you say, 'What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?'I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years.When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives."The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land."If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.If a man has no one to redeem it and then himself becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it,let him calculate the years since he sold it and pay back the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and then return to his property.But if he does not have sufficient means to recover it, then what he sold shall remain in the hand of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property."If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption."Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord.If it is not redeemed within a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong in perpetuity to the buyer, throughout his generations; it shall not be released in the jubilee.But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them shall be classified with the fields of the land. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the jubilee.As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites may redeem at any time the houses in the cities they possess.And if one of the Levites exercises his right of redemption, then the house that was sold in a city they possess shall be released in the jubilee. For the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.But the fields of pastureland belonging to their cities may not be sold, for that is their possession forever."If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God."If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave:For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits,he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers.For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property.You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly."If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan,then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him,or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.He shall calculate with his buyer from the year when he sold himself to him until the year of jubilee, and the price of his sale shall vary with the number of years. The time he was with his owner shall be rated as the time of a hired worker.If there are still many years left, he shall pay proportionately for his redemption some of his sale price.If there remain but a few years until the year of jubilee, he shall calculate and pay for his redemption in proportion to his years of service.He shall treat him as a worker hired year by year. He shall not rule ruthlessly over him in your sight.And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he and his children with him shall be released in the year of jubilee.For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired worker and the sojourner who lives with you,and for your cattle and for the wild animals that are in your land: all its yield shall be for food."You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years.Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land.
Nov 14
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 24:1-23 ESV
Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp,and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death."Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life.If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God."So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly."You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf.And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord.And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord.Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord's food offerings, a perpetual due."
Nov 14
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 10:1-21 ESV
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry." Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)"or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 9:1-33 ESV
And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay."And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah." that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 8:1-39 ESV
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hopethat the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 7:1-25 ESV
The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 6:1-23 ESV
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.For one who has died has been set free from sin.Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 5:1-21 ESV
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 4:1-25 ESV
How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 3:1-31 ESV
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)By no means! For then how could God judge the world?But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 2:1-29 ESV
but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.For God shows no partiality.For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse themon that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in Godand know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.He will render to each one according to his works:to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Romans 1:1-32 ESV
always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.Claiming to be wise, they became fools,and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the fleshand was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 28:1-31 ESV
They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain."And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: "'Go to this people, and say, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive." For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 27:1-44 ESV
saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.But we must run aground on some island."When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 26:1-32 ESV
And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities."In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending youto open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind."But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?"And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.""I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment."And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently."My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 25:1-27 ESV
But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix,and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him." And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly."So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 24:1-27 ESV
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case."Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 23:1-35 ESV
And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you."The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent."So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of these things."Then he called two of the centurions and said, "Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor."And he wrote a letter to this effect:"Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium. Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?"And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"
Nov 13