Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

¹There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

²This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

⁵Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

⁸The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

¹⁰Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

¹¹Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

¹²If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

¹³No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

¹⁵that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

¹⁸“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

²⁰For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

²¹But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

²²After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.

²³Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

²⁴For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

²⁵Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.

²⁶And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

²⁷John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

²⁸You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’

²⁹He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease.

³¹He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

³²And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.

³³He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.

³⁴For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

³⁵The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

³⁶He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

¹Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

²“Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.

³Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea;

⁴your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon;

⁵the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea.

⁶‘As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.

⁷‘And this shall be your northern border: From the Great Sea you shall mark out your border line to Mount Hor;

⁸from Mount Hor you shall mark out your border to the entrance of Hamath; then the direction of the border shall be toward Zedad;

⁹the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your northern border.

¹⁰‘You shall mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham;

¹¹the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth;

¹²the border shall go down along the Jordan, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its surrounding boundaries.’ ”

¹³Then Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.

¹⁴For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and the half-tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance.

¹⁵The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, across from Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.”

¹⁶And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

¹⁷“These are the names of the men who shall divide the land among you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.

¹⁸And you shall take one leader of every tribe to divide the land for the inheritance.

¹⁹These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;

²⁰from the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud;

²¹from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon;

²²a leader from the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli;

²³from the sons of Joseph: a leader from the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod,

²⁴and a leader from the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan;

²⁵a leader from the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach;

²⁶a leader from the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan;

²⁷a leader from the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi;

²⁸and a leader from the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.”

²⁹These are the ones the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance among the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

¹Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

²all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

³all ate the same spiritual food,

⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

⁵But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

⁷And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

⁸Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

⁹nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

¹⁰nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

¹¹Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

¹²Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

¹⁴Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

¹⁵I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

¹⁷For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

¹⁸Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

¹⁹What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?

²⁰Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

²²Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

²³All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

²⁴Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

²⁵Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;

²⁶for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁷If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

²⁸But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁹“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?

³⁰But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

³²Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

³³just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

¹Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

²older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

³Honor widows who are really widows.

⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

⁵Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

⁶But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

⁷And these things command, that they may be blameless.

⁸But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,

¹⁰well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

¹²having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.

¹³And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

¹⁴Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

¹⁵For some have already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

¹⁸For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

¹⁹Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

²⁰Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

²¹I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

²²Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

²³No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

²⁴Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.

²⁵Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

¹“Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.

²Iron is taken from the earth, And copper is smelted from ore.

³Man puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.

⁴He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.

⁵As for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;

⁶Its stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.

⁷That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.

⁸The proud lions have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.

⁹He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.

¹⁰He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.

¹¹He dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.

¹²“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

¹³Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

¹⁵It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.

¹⁶It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire.

¹⁷Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.

¹⁸No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.

¹⁹The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.

²⁰“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

²¹It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.

²²Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’

²³God understands its way, And He knows its place.

²⁴For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,

²⁵To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.

²⁶When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,

²⁷Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.

²⁸And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

¹A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance. [1] O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

²For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down.

³There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin.

⁴For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

⁵My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness.

⁶I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

⁷For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh.

⁸I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

⁹Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You.

¹⁰My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

¹¹My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off.

¹²Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.

¹³But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.

¹⁴Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.

¹⁵For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.

¹⁶For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”

¹⁷For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

¹⁸For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.

¹⁹But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.

²⁰Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.

²¹Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me!

²²Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

²Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.

³A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹²When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

¹⁷A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

¹⁹He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²²A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

²³He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” The same is companion to a destroyer.

²⁵He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.

²⁶He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

²⁷He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

¹Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

²And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”

³Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”

⁴So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

⁵Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

⁶Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

⁷So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

⁸Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”

⁹And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

¹⁰You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”

¹²Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

¹³So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

¹Thus says the LORD: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word,

²and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates!

³Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

⁴For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.

⁵But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself,” says the LORD, “that this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

⁶For thus says the LORD to the house of the king of Judah: “You are Gilead to Me, The head of Lebanon; Yet I surely will make you a wilderness, Cities which are not inhabited.

⁷I will prepare destroyers against you, Everyone with his weapons; They shall cut down your choice cedars And cast them into the fire.

⁸And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, ‘Why has the LORD done so to this great city?’

⁹Then they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.’ ”

¹⁰Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him; Weep bitterly for him who goes away, For he shall return no more, Nor see his native country.

¹¹For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, who went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore,

¹²but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

¹³“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work,

¹⁴Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar And painting it with vermilion.’

¹⁵“Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

¹⁶He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD.

¹⁷“Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence.”

¹⁸Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’ They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’

¹⁹He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

²⁰“Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, And lift up your voice in Bashan; Cry from Abarim, For all your lovers are destroyed.

²¹I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, ‘I will not hear.’ This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice.

²²The wind shall eat up all your rulers, And your lovers shall go into captivity; Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated For all your wickedness.

²³O inhabitant of Lebanon, Making your nest in the cedars, How gracious will you be when pangs come upon you, Like the pain of a woman in labor?

²⁴“As I live,” says the LORD, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off;

²⁵and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans.

²⁶So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die.

²⁷But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return.

²⁸“Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol— A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know?

²⁹O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the LORD!

³⁰Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.’ ”

¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

⁶And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

⁷Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

⁸And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

¹¹Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

¹²So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

¹³Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

¹⁴But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

¹⁵For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

¹⁶But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

¹⁸And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

¹⁹I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

²⁰The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

²¹And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’

²²“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—

²³Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

²⁴whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

²⁵For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

²⁶Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

²⁷For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

²⁹“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

³⁰Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

³¹he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

³²This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

³³Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

³⁴“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

³⁵Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

³⁶“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

³⁸Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

³⁹For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

⁴¹Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

⁴²And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

⁴³Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

⁴⁴Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

⁴⁵and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

⁴⁶So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.