Pamela Goodman
Pamela Goodman's Highlights
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 22:1-30 ESV
And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus."And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'"When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a tranceand saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. "Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.'And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?"When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth."So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished."As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 21:1-40 ESV
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "Let the will of the Lord be done."After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,for the mob of the people followed, crying out, "Away with him!"As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?"Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayedand said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 20:1-38 ESV
But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus.For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas,but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 19:1-41 ESV
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.There were about twelve men in all.And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
Nov 13
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 18:1-28 ESV
for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."And he drove them from the tribunal.And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
Nov 12
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 17:1-34 ESV
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean."Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."So Paul went out from their midst.But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Nov 12
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 16:1-40 ESV
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Nov 10
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 15:1-41 ESV
Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.' Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Nov 10
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 14:1-28 ESV
said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.And they remained no little time with the disciples. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,and there they continued to preach the gospel.Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
Nov 9
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 13:1-52 ESV
and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."But God raised him from the dead,and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.' And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'" As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 11:1-30 ESV
This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."But Peter began and explained it to them in order:"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 10:1-48 ESV
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a tranceand saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gateand called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothingand said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,"Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 9:42-43 ESV
And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 9:1-41 ESV
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priestAnd immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?"But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Acts 8:1-40 ESV
They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great."And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worshipand was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.So there was much joy in that city.But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
Nov 5
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 23:1-44 ESV
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest,and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord.And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord.And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations."And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord.And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people."Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people.You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord.On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work."These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day,besides the Lord's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord."On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest."Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths,that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the Lord. "These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover.And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Nov 2
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 22:1-33 ESV
"A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing,but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it, and anyone born in his house may eat of his food.If a priest's daughter marries a layman, she shall not eat of the contribution of the holy things.But if a priest's daughter is widowed or divorced and has no child and returns to her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food; yet no lay person shall eat of it.And if anyone eats of a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest.They shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, which they contribute to the Lord,and so cause them to bear iniquity and guilt, by eating their holy things: for I am the Lord who sanctifies them."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the Lord,if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the Lord or give them to the Lord as a food offering on the altar.You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted.Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the Lord; you shall not do it within your land,neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the Lord.But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day.And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted."Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name: I am the Lord.It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the Lord."So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord.And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you,who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord." Say to them, 'If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.None of the offspring of Aaron who has a leprous disease or a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen,and whoever touches a swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or a person from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may be—the person who touches such a thing shall be unclean until the evening and shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.When the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward he may eat of the holy things, because they are his food.He shall not eat what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, and so make himself unclean by it: I am the Lord.'They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it: I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
Nov 2
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 21:1-24 ESV
"The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes.He shall not go in to any dead bodies nor make himself unclean, even for his father or for his mother.He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the Lord.And he shall take a wife in her virginity.A widow, or a divorced woman, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute, these he shall not marry. But he shall take as his wife a virgin of his own people,that he may not profane his offspring among his people, for I am the Lord who sanctifies him."And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,"Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long,or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, And the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people,or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord's food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things,but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them."So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel. except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean).He shall not make himself unclean as a husband among his people and so profane himself.They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body.They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy.And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
Oct 31
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 20:1-27 ESV
"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them.If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you.If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal.If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them."If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity.If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless."You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them.But I have said to you, 'You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.' I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean.You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine."A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them." "Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name.And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech."If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.
Oct 31
Pamela Goodman
highlighted Leviticus 19:2-37 ESV
And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God."You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord."You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord."You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material."If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free;but he shall bring his compensation to the Lord, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering.And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the Lord for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has committed."When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten.And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord.But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God."You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord."Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity."Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord."Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God."You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity.You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord." Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God."When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire.If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is tainted; it will not be accepted,and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from his people."When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
Oct 31