Solomon’s Daily Provisions

²⁰ The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand^(A) on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.^{(B) 21} And Solomon ruled^(C) over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River^(D) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.^(E) These countries brought tribute^(F) and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

²² Solomon’s daily provisions^(G) were thirty cors^[a] of the finest flour and sixty cors^[b] of meal, ²³ ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.^{(H) 24} For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah^(I) to Gaza, and had peace^(J) on all sides. ²⁵ During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,^(K) lived in safety,^(L) everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.^(M)

²⁶ Solomon had four^[c] thousand stalls for chariot horses,^(N) and twelve thousand horses.^[d]

²⁷ The district governors,^(O) each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. ²⁸ They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

Solomon’s Wisdom

²⁹ God gave Solomon wisdom^(P) and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand^(Q) on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,^(R) and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.^{(S) 31} He was wiser^(T) than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs^(U) and his songs^(V) numbered a thousand and five. ³³ He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop^(W) that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. ³⁴ From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings^(X) of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.^[e]

Preparations for Building the Temple^(Y)

5 ^[f]When Hiram^(Z) king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. ² Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

⁷ When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord^(AI) today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”

⁸ So Hiram sent word to Solomon:

¹⁰ In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, ¹¹ and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors^[g] of wheat as food^(AL) for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths^[h][i] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. ¹² The Lord gave Solomon wisdom,^(AM) just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.^(AN)

¹³ King Solomon conscripted laborers^(AO) from all Israel—thirty thousand men. ¹⁴ He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram^(AP) was in charge of the forced labor. ¹⁵ Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, ¹⁶ as well as thirty-three hundred^[j] foremen^(AQ) who supervised the project and directed the workers. ¹⁷ At the king’s command they removed from the quarry^(AR) large blocks of high-grade stone^(AS) to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. ¹⁸ The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram^(AT) and workers from Byblos^(AU) cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”^(A)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(B) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(C) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^{(D) 39} The promise is for you and your children^(E) and for all who are far off^(F)—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”^{(G) 41} Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(H) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching^(I) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread^(J) and to prayer.^{(K) 43} Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.^{(L) 44} All the believers were together and had everything in common.^{(M) 45} They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.^{(N) 46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.^(O) They broke bread^(P) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.^(Q) And the Lord added to their number^(R) daily those who were being saved.

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 One day Peter and John^(S) were going up to the temple^(T) at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.^{(U) 2} Now a man who was lame from birth^(V) was being carried to the temple gate^(W) called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg^(X) from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(Y) walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,^(Z) and praising God. ⁹ When all the people^(AA) saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,^(AB) and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.