The Shunammite Woman

Now a day came when Elisha went over to (A)Shunem, where there was a [a]prominent woman, and she urged him to eat [b]food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat [c]food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I am aware that this is a holy (B)man of God passing by us repeatedly. 10 Please, let’s (C)make a little walled upper room, and let’s set up a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; then it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

11 Now [d]one day he came there, and turned in to the upper room and [e]rested. 12 Then he said to his servant (D)Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite.” And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have taken trouble for us with all this [f]care; what can I do for you? [g]Would you like me to speak for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” But she [h]answered, “I live among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi [i]answered, “It is a fact that she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He then said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “(E)At this season [j]next year, you are going to embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, you man of God, (F)do not lie to your servant.”

17 Now the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at that season [k]the next year, as Elisha had told her.

The Shunammite’s Son

18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” And his father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had carried him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her [l]lap until noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and (G)laid him on the bed of (H)the man of God, and shut the door behind him and left. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 But he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither (I)new moon nor Sabbath.” So she just said, “It will be fine.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive the donkey and go on; do not slow down [m]the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she went on and came to the man of God at (J)Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, that person there is the Shunammite. 26 Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it going well for you? Is it going well for your husband? Is it going well for the child?’” Then she [n]answered, “It is going well.” 27 But she came to the man of God (K)at the hill and took hold of his feet. And Gehazi came up to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is [o]troubled within her; and the Lord has concealed it from me and has not informed me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘(L)Do not give me false hope’?”

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “[p](M)Get ready and (N)take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not [q](O)greet him, and if anyone [r]greets you, do not reply to him. And (P)lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 The mother of the boy said, “(Q)As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 31 Then Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or [s]response. So he returned to meet him and informed him, saying, “The boy (R)has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha entered the house, behold the boy was dead, laid on his bed. 33 So he entered and (S)shut the door behind them both, and he prayed to the Lord. 34 Then (T)he got up on the bed and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, his hands on his hands, and he bent down on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house back and forth once, and went up and (U)bent down on him; and the boy sneezed seven times, then the boy opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 Then she came in and fell at his feet and bowed down to the ground, and (V)she picked up her son and left.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit great
  2. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread
  3. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread
  4. 2 Kings 4:11 Lit the day came that
  5. 2 Kings 4:11 Lit lay there
  6. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit fear
  7. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit Is it to speak
  8. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit said
  9. 2 Kings 4:14 Lit said
  10. 2 Kings 4:16 Lit when the time revives
  11. 2 Kings 4:17 Lit when the time revived
  12. 2 Kings 4:20 Lit knees
  13. 2 Kings 4:24 Lit riding
  14. 2 Kings 4:26 Lit said
  15. 2 Kings 4:27 Lit bitter
  16. 2 Kings 4:29 Lit Belt up your waist
  17. 2 Kings 4:29 Lit bless
  18. 2 Kings 4:29 Lit blesses
  19. 2 Kings 4:31 Lit attentiveness

The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life

One day Elisha went to Shunem.(A) And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay(B) there whenever he comes to us.”

11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.”(C) So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”

She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.

Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time(D) next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”

“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”

17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

18 The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.(E) 19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!”

His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed(F) of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

22 She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”

23 “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon(G) or the Sabbath.”

“That’s all right,” she said.

24 She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.(H)

When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! 26 Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’”

“Everything is all right,” she said.

27 When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress,(I) but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”

28 “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

29 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt,(J) take my staff(K) in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

30 But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.

31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch.(L) 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed(M) to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched(N) himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times(O) and opened his eyes.(P)

36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.”(Q) 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.

Read full chapter

The Rich Young Ruler

17 (A)As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and (B)knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may (C)inherit eternal life?” 18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘(D)Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept (E)all these things from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have (F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But he [a]was deeply dismayed by [b]these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, (G)How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples (H)were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 (I)It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, “[c]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, (J)With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28 (K)Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and have followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, (L)there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 [d]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in [e]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in (M)the age to come, eternal life. 31 But (N)many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 10:22 Or became gloomy at; or was shocked by
  2. Mark 10:22 Lit the word
  3. Mark 10:26 Lit And
  4. Mark 10:30 Lit if he does not
  5. Mark 10:30 Lit this time

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees(B) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(C)

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a](D)

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,(E) and you will have treasure in heaven.(F) Then come, follow me.”(G)

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich(H) to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God!(I) 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”(J)

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”(K)

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”(L)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much(M) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come(N) eternal life.(O) 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 10:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  2. Mark 10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches

Paul Is Sent to Rome

27 Now when it was decided that (A)we (B)would sail for (C)Italy, they proceeded to turn Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan [a](D)cohort, named Julius. And we boarded an Adramyttian ship that was about to sail to the regions along the coast of [b](E)Asia, and put out to sea accompanied by (F)Aristarchus, a (G)Macedonian of (H)Thessalonica. The next day we put in at (I)Sidon; and Julius (J)treated Paul with consideration and (K)allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of (L)Cyprus, because (M)the winds were contrary. When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of (N)Cilicia and (O)Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an (P)Alexandrian ship sailing for (Q)Italy, and he put us aboard it. When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, (R)since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of (S)Crete, off Salmone; and with difficulty (T)sailing past it, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even (U)the [c]fast was already over, Paul started admonishing them, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with (V)damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the (W)pilot and the [d]captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of (X)Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

13 [e]When a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began (Y)sailing along (Z)Crete, closer to shore.

Shipwreck

14 But before very long a violent wind, called [f]Euraquilo, (AA)rushed down from [g]the land; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head up into the wind, we gave up and let ourselves be driven by the wind. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were able to get the ship’s [h]boat under control only with difficulty. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used [i]supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might (AB)run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the [j]sea anchor and let themselves be driven along in this way. 18 The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, [k]they began to (AC)jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned.

21 [l]When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “[m](AD)Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from (AE)Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this (AF)damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to (AG)keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night (AH)an angel of the God to whom I belong, (AI)whom I also serve, (AJ)came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; (AK)you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you (AL)all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, (AM)keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that [n]it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must (AN)run aground on a certain (AO)island.”

27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that [o]they were approaching some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that we might (AP)run aground somewhere on the [p]rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and [q]prayed for daybreak. 30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down (AQ)the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the (AR)ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.

33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul kept encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing. 34 Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for (AS)not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 Having said this, he took bread and (AT)gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All (AU)of them [r]were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37 We were 276 [s](AV)people on the ship in all. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by (AW)throwing the wheat out into the sea.

39 Now when day came, (AX)they [t]could not recognize the land; but they did notice a bay with a beach, and they resolved to run the ship onto it if they could. 40 And casting off (AY)the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach. 41 But they struck a [u]reef where two seas met and ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck firmly and remained immovable, while the stern started to break up due to the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to (AZ)kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, (BA)wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from accomplishing their intention, and commanded that those who could swim were to [v]jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that (BB)they all were brought safely to land.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:1 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
  2. Acts 27:2 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  3. Acts 27:9 I.e., Day of Atonement in September or October, which was a dangerous time of year for navigation
  4. Acts 27:11 Or owner
  5. Acts 27:13 Lit a south wind having gently blown
  6. Acts 27:14 I.e., a northeaster
  7. Acts 27:14 Lit it
  8. Acts 27:16 Or skiff: a small boat in tow for emergencies, transportation to and from shore, etc.
  9. Acts 27:17 Lit helps
  10. Acts 27:17 Lit implement, an object designed to stabilize a boat from the stern against the wind.
  11. Acts 27:18 Lit they were doing a throwing out
  12. Acts 27:21 Lit there being much lack of appetite
  13. Acts 27:21 Lit O men
  14. Acts 27:25 Lit it will be
  15. Acts 27:27 Lit some land was approaching them
  16. Acts 27:29 Lit rough places
  17. Acts 27:29 Or wished for
  18. Acts 27:36 Lit became cheerful
  19. Acts 27:37 Lit souls
  20. Acts 27:39 Lit were not recognizing
  21. Acts 27:41 Lit place
  22. Acts 27:43 Lit throw themselves

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When it was decided that we(A) would sail for Italy,(B) Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.(C) We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,(D) and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,(E) a Macedonian(F) from Thessalonica,(G) was with us.

The next day we landed at Sidon;(H) and Julius, in kindness to Paul,(I) allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.(J) From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.(K) When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia(L) and Pamphylia,(M) we landed at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship(N) sailing for Italy(O) and put us on board. We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course,(P) we sailed to the lee of Crete,(Q) opposite Salmone. We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a](R) So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”(S) 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete,(T) facing both southwest and northwest.

The Storm

13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,(U) called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat(V) secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground(W) on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.(X) 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice(Y) not to sail from Crete;(Z) then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage,(AA) because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel(AB) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve(AC) stood beside me(AD) 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;(AE) and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’(AF) 25 So keep up your courage,(AG) men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.(AH) 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground(AI) on some island.”(AJ)

The Shipwreck

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat(AK) down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”(AL) 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”(AM) 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it(AN) and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged(AO) and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.(AP)

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach,(AQ) where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors,(AR) they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.(AS)

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life(AT) and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:9 That is, Yom Kippur
  2. Acts 27:17 Or the sails
  3. Acts 27:27 In ancient times the name referred to an area extending well south of Italy.
  4. Acts 27:28 Or about 37 meters
  5. Acts 27:28 Or about 27 meters