2 Chronicles 33

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.4 And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practised augury, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.7 And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses.9 And Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.10 And Jehovah spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.11 Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.12 And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.13 And he prayed unto him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah he was God.14 Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about with it, and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.15 And he took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Jehovah, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Jehovah, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.16 And he built up the altar of Jehovah, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel.17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only unto Jehovah their God.18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.21 Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.22 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed unto all the graven images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.23 And he humbled not himself before Jehovah, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.24 And his servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Hosea 1

1 The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.2 When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.4 And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Jehovah said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Jehovah their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.8 Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.9 And Jehovah said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up from the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Acts 14

1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.2 But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.5 And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,6 they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:7 and there they preached the gospel.8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.13 And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out15 and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:16 who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.17 And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.24 And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;26 and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles.28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.

Acts 15

1 And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.3 They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.7 And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.8 And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.10 Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.12 And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:14 Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,16 After these things I will return,17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord,18 Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

19 Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;20 but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.21 For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:23 and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:24 Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;25 it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,26 men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.30 So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.33 And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.34 But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.35 But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.36 And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.37 And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.38 But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.39 And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;40 but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.