Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.

²Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”

⁴They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”

⁵But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.

⁶But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.

⁷For this reason a man will leave his father and mother

⁸and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

⁹Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter.

¹¹He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

¹²Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

¹³People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

¹⁵Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

¹⁶After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

¹⁷As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.

¹⁹You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”

²⁰He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”

²¹Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²²But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

²³Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”

²⁷Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

²⁸Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,

³⁰who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time  — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions  — and eternal life in the age to come.

³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

³²They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.

³³“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,

³⁴and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.”

³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

³⁶“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

³⁷They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”

³⁸Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

³⁹“We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.

⁴⁰But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.

⁴²Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.

⁴³But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,

⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.

⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

⁴⁶They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”

⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.”

⁵⁰He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”

⁵²Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.

¹The LORD spoke to Moses:

²“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community and have the camps set out.

³When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

⁴However, if one is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans, are to gather before you.

⁵“When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east are to set out.

⁶When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out.

⁷When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.

⁸The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

⁹“When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies.

¹⁰You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”

¹¹During the second year, in the second month on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted up above the tabernacle of the testimony.

¹²The Israelites traveled on from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from one place to the next until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran.

¹³They set out for the first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

¹⁴The military divisions of the camp of Judah’s descendants with their banner set out first, and Nahshon son of Amminadab was over their divisions.

¹⁵Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants,

¹⁶and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun’s descendants.

¹⁷The tabernacle was then taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting the tabernacle.

¹⁸The military divisions of the camp of Reuben with their banner set out, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over their divisions.

¹⁹Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants,

²⁰and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad’s descendants.

²¹The Kohathites then set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

²²Next the military divisions of the camp of Ephraim’s descendants with their banner set out, and Elishama son of Ammihud was over their divisions.

²³Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants,

²⁴and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants.

²⁵The military divisions of the camp of Dan’s descendants with their banner set out, serving as rear guard for all the camps, and Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over their divisions.

²⁶Pagiel son of Ochran was over the division of the tribe of Asher’s descendants,

²⁷and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants.

²⁸This was the order of march for the Israelites by their military divisions as they set out.

²⁹Moses said to Hobab, descendant of Reuel the Midianite and Moses’s relative by marriage: Reuel the Midianite: “We’re setting out for the place the LORD promised: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

³⁰But he replied to him, “I don’t want to go. Instead, I will go to my own land and my relatives.”

³¹“Please don’t leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes.

³²If you come with us, whatever good the LORD does for us we will do for you.”

³³They set out from the mountain of the LORD on a three-day journey with the ark of the LORD’s covenant traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.

³⁴Meanwhile, the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

³⁵Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say: Arise, LORD! Let your enemies be scattered, and those who hate you flee from your presence.

³⁶When it came to rest, he would say: Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.

¹Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

²Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

³In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world.

⁴When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

⁵to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

⁶And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

⁷So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

⁸But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

⁹But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

¹⁰You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.

¹¹I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

¹²I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;

¹³you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh.

¹⁴You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

¹⁵Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

¹⁶So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?

¹⁷They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them.

¹⁸But it is always good to be pursued in a good manner — and not just when I am with you.

¹⁹My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.

²⁰I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

²¹Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law?

²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman.

²³But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise.

²⁴These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery — this is Hagar.

²⁵Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

²⁶But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, childless woman, unable to give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate woman will be many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.

²⁸Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

²⁹But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit, so also now.

³⁰But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”

³¹Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.

¹After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,

²because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.

³A second time they said, Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever!

⁴Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah!

⁵A voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great!

⁶Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!

⁷Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

⁸She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

⁹Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”

¹⁰Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

¹¹Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice.

¹²His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself.

¹³He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

¹⁴The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen.

¹⁵A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.

¹⁶And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

¹⁷Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

¹⁸so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”

¹⁹Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army.

²⁰But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

²¹The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.

¹After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.

²He said:

³May the day I was born perish, and the night that said, “A boy is conceived.”

⁴If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it.

⁵May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it. May what darkens the day terrify it.

⁶If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar.

⁷Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout be heard in it.

⁸Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

⁹May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

¹⁰For that night did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, and hide sorrow from my eyes.

¹¹Why was I not stillborn; why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

¹²Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

¹³Now I would certainly be lying down in peace; I would be asleep. Then I would be at rest

¹⁴with the kings and counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

¹⁵or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

¹⁶Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, like infants who never see daylight?

¹⁷There the wicked cease to make trouble, and there the weary find rest.

¹⁸The captives are completely at rest; they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.

¹⁹Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master.

²⁰Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter,

²¹who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

²²who are filled with much joy and are glad when they reach the grave?

²³Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

²⁴I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.

²⁵For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.

²⁶I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come.

¹A song of ascents. Of Solomon. [1] Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the LORD watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.

²In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food —  yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.

³Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, offspring, a reward.

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.

⁵Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

¹My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands;

²for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being.

³Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.

⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;

⁶in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

⁷Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

⁸This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.

⁹Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;

¹⁰then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

¹¹Do not despise the LORD’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline;

¹²for the LORD disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

¹³Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,

¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her.

¹⁶Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor.

¹⁷Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.

¹⁹The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

²⁰By his knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

²¹Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.

²²They will be life for you and adornment for your neck.

²³Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

²⁵Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

²⁶for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.

²⁷When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs.

²⁸Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.

²⁹Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you and lives near you.

³⁰Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

³¹Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;

³²for the devious are detestable to the LORD, but he is a friend to the upright.

³³The LORD’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous;

³⁴He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.

³⁵The wise will inherit honor, but he holds up fools to dishonor.

¹After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel.

²Ahaziah had fallen through the latticed window of his upstairs room in Samaria and was injured. So he sent messengers, instructing them, “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.”

³But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?

⁴Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’” Then Elijah left.

⁵The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back?”

⁶They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him: This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’”

⁷The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you?”

⁸They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”

⁹So King Ahaziah sent a captain with his fifty men to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down! ’”

¹⁰Elijah responded to the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹¹So the king sent another captain with his fifty men to Elijah. He took in the situation and announced, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately! ’”

¹²Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹³Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious to you.

¹⁴Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you.”

¹⁵The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” So he got up and went down with him to the king.

¹⁶Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron — is it because there is no God in Israel for you to inquire of his will? — you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’”

¹⁷Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Since he had no son, Joram became king in his place. This happened in the second year of Judah’s King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat.

¹⁸The rest of the events of Ahaziah’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

¹“Now you, son of man, take a brick, set it in front of you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

²Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp, pitch military camps, and place battering rams against it on all sides.

³Take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Face it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign for the house of Israel.

⁴“Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. You will bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side.

⁵For I have assigned you the years of their iniquity according to the number of days you lie down, 390 days; so you will bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

⁶When you have completed these days, lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. I have assigned you forty days, a day for each year.

⁷Face the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.

⁸Be aware that I will put cords on you so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

⁹“Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the number of days you lie on your side, 390 days.

¹⁰The food you eat each day will weigh eight ounces; you will eat it at set times.

¹¹You will also drink a ration of water, a sixth of a gallon, which you will drink at set times.

¹²You will eat it as you would a barley cake and bake it over dried human excrement in their sight.”

¹³The LORD said, “This is how the Israelites will eat their bread — ceremonially unclean — among the nations where I will banish them.”

¹⁴But I said, “Oh, Lord GOD, I have never been defiled. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts. And impure meat has never entered my mouth.”

¹⁵He replied to me, “Look, I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you can make your bread over that.”

¹⁶He said to me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat food they have weighed out and in dread drink rationed water

¹⁷for lack of bread and water. Everyone will be devastated and waste away because of their iniquity.

¹Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

²After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.

³When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.

⁴When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

⁵But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

⁶The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter.

⁷After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers and sisters, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.

⁸And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.

⁹He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

¹⁰Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

¹¹On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

¹²The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

¹³After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers and sisters, listen to me.

¹⁴Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.

¹⁵And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

¹⁶After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,

¹⁷so the rest of humanity may seek the Lord — even all the Gentiles who are called by my name — declares the Lord who makes these things

¹⁸known from long ago.

¹⁹Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.

²¹For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”

²²Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.

²³They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

²⁴Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,

²⁵we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.

²⁸For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision — and ours — not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:

²⁹that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”

³⁰So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.

³¹When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

³²Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.

³³After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.

³⁴

³⁵But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.

³⁶After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”

³⁷Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.

³⁸But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

³⁹They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.

⁴⁰But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.

⁴¹He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.