Numbers 3

New International Version

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(A) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(B)

²The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^(D) ³Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(F) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(G) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(H) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(I)

⁵The Lord said to Moses, ⁶“Bring the tribe of Levi^(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^(K) ⁷They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(L) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(M) of the tabernacle. ⁸They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(N) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^[a] ¹⁰Appoint Aaron^(O) and his sons to serve as priests;^(P) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(Q)

¹¹The Lord also said to Moses, ¹²“I have taken the Levites^(R) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(S) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^(T) ¹³for all the firstborn are mine.^(U) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(V)

¹⁴The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^(W) ¹⁵“Count^(X) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^(Y) ¹⁶So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

¹⁷These were the names of the sons of Levi:^(Z)

Gershon,^(AA) Kohath^(AB) and Merari.^(AC)

¹⁸These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.^(AD)

¹⁹The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.^(AE)

²⁰The Merarite clans:^(AF)

Mahli and Mushi.^(AG)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹To Gershon^(AH) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(AI) these were the Gershonite clans. ²²The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^(AJ) ²⁴The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(AK) and tent, its coverings,^(AL) the curtain at the entrance^(AM) to the tent of meeting,^(AN) ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard^(AO), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AP) and the ropes^(AQ)—and everything^(AR) related to their use.

²⁷To Kohath^(AS) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(AT) these were the Kohathite^(AU) clans. ²⁸The number of all the males a month old or more^(AV) was 8,600.^[b] The Kohathites were responsible^(AW) for the care of the sanctuary.^(AX) ²⁹The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(AY) of the tabernacle. ³⁰The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AZ) son of Uzziel. ³¹They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(BA) the table,^(BB) the lampstand,^(BC) the altars,^(BD) the articles^(BE) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(BF) and everything related to their use.^(BG) ³²The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(BH) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(BI) for the care of the sanctuary.^(BJ)

³³To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BK) these were the Merarite clans.^(BL) ³⁴The number of all the males a month old or more^(BM) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^(BN) ³⁶The Merarites were appointed^(BO) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BP) its crossbars,^(BQ) posts,^(BR) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^(BS) ³⁷as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BT) with their bases, tent pegs^(BU) and ropes.

³⁸Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(BV) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(BW) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(BX) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(BY)

³⁹The total number of Levites counted^(BZ) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(CA)

⁴⁰The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(CB) and make a list of their names.^(CC) ⁴¹Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(CD) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(CE)

⁴²So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(CF) listed by name, was 22,273.^(CG)

⁴⁴The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(CH) I am the Lord.^(CI) ⁴⁶To redeem^(CJ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷collect five shekels^[c]^(CK) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(CL) which weighs twenty gerahs.^(CM) ⁴⁸Give the money for the redemption^(CN) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(CO)

⁴⁹So Moses collected the redemption money^(CP) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰From the firstborn of the Israelites^(CQ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[d]^(CR) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

Footnotes

Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms

Isaiah 28

New International Version

Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah

28 Woe^(A) to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s^(B) drunkards,
    to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley^(C)—
    to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!^(D)
²See, the Lord has one who is powerful^(E) and strong.
    Like a hailstorm^(F) and a destructive wind,^(G)
like a driving rain and a flooding^(H) downpour,
    he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
³That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s^(I) drunkards,
    will be trampled^(J) underfoot.
⁴That fading flower, his glorious beauty,
    set on the head of a fertile valley,^(K)
will be like figs^(L) ripe before harvest—
    as soon as people see them and take them in hand,
    they swallow them.

⁵In that day^(M) the Lord Almighty
    will be a glorious^(N) crown,^(O)
a beautiful wreath
    for the remnant^(P) of his people.
⁶He will be a spirit of justice^(Q)
    to the one who sits in judgment,^(R)
a source of strength
    to those who turn back the battle^(S) at the gate.

⁷And these also stagger^(T) from wine^(U)
    and reel^(V) from beer:
Priests^(W) and prophets^(X) stagger from beer
    and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
    they stagger when seeing visions,^(Y)
    they stumble when rendering decisions.
⁸All the tables are covered with vomit^(Z)
    and there is not a spot without filth.

⁹“Who is it he is trying to teach?^(AA)
    To whom is he explaining his message?^(AB)
To children weaned^(AC) from their milk,^(AD)
    to those just taken from the breast?
¹⁰For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that^[a];
    a little here, a little there.^(AE)”

¹¹Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues^(AF)
    God will speak to this people,^(AG)
¹²to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;^(AH)
and, “This is the place of repose”—
    but they would not listen.
¹³So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there^(AI)—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured^(AJ) and snared and captured.^(AK)

¹⁴Therefore hear the word of the Lord,^(AL) you scoffers^(AM)
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.
¹⁵You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,^(AN)
    with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(AO)
    it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie^(AP) our refuge
    and falsehood^[b] our hiding place.^(AQ)”

¹⁶So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,^(AR) a tested stone,^(AS)
    a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;^(AT)
the one who relies on it
    will never be stricken with panic.^(AU)
¹⁷I will make justice^(AV) the measuring line
    and righteousness the plumb line;^(AW)
hail^(AX) will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
    and water will overflow^(AY) your hiding place.
¹⁸Your covenant with death will be annulled;
    your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.^(AZ)
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(BA)
    you will be beaten down^(BB) by it.
¹⁹As often as it comes it will carry you away;^(BC)
    morning after morning,^(BD) by day and by night,
    it will sweep through.”

The understanding of this message
    will bring sheer terror.^(BE)
²⁰The bed is too short to stretch out on,
    the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.^(BF)
²¹The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,^(BG)
    he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon^(BH)—
to do his work,^(BI) his strange work,
    and perform his task, his alien task.
²²Now stop your mocking,^(BJ)
    or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
    of the destruction decreed^(BK) against the whole land.^(BL)

²³Listen^(BM) and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
²⁴When a farmer plows for planting,^(BN) does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
²⁵When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?^(BO)
Does he not plant wheat in its place,^[c]
    barley^(BP) in its plot,^[d]
    and spelt^(BQ) in its field?
²⁶His God instructs him
    and teaches^(BR) him the right way.

²⁷Caraway is not threshed^(BS) with a sledge,^(BT)
    nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,^(BU)
    and cumin with a stick.
²⁸Grain must be ground to make bread;
    so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart^(BV) may be rolled over it,
    but one does not use horses to grind grain.
²⁹All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,^(BW)
    whose wisdom is magnificent.^(BX)

Footnotes

Isaiah 28:10 Hebrew / sav lasav sav lasav / kav lakav kav lakav (probably meaningless sounds mimicking the prophet’s words); also in verse 13
Isaiah 28:15 Or false gods
Isaiah 28:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Isaiah 28:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

Acts 13

New International Version

13 ¹Now in the church at Antioch^(A) there were prophets^(B) and teachers:^(C) Barnabas,^(D) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,^(E) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod^(F) the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(G) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(H) to which I have called them.”^(I) ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(J) and sent them off.^(K)

On Cyprus

⁴The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,^(L) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.^(M) ⁵When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God^(N) in the Jewish synagogues.^(O) John^(P) was with them as their helper.

⁶They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer^(Q) and false prophet^(R) named Bar-Jesus, ⁷who was an attendant of the proconsul,^(S) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer^(T) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul^(U) from the faith.^(V) ⁹Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(W) looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰“You are a child of the devil^(X) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?^(Y) ¹¹Now the hand of the Lord is against you.^(Z) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”^(AA)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹²When the proconsul^(AB) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

¹³From Paphos,^(AC) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,^(AD) where John^(AE) left them to return to Jerusalem. ¹⁴From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.^(AF) On the Sabbath^(AG) they entered the synagogue^(AH) and sat down. ¹⁵After the reading from the Law^(AI) and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

¹⁶Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand^(AJ) and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;^(AK) ¹⁸for about forty years he endured their conduct^[a]^(AL) in the wilderness;^(AM) ¹⁹and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,^(AN) giving their land to his people^(AO) as their inheritance.^(AP) ²⁰All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges^(AQ) until the time of Samuel the prophet.^(AR) ²¹Then the people asked for a king,^(AS) and he gave them Saul^(AT) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,^(AU) who ruled forty years. ²²After removing Saul,^(AV) he made David their king.^(AW) God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;^(AX) he will do everything I want him to do.’^(AY)

²³“From this man’s descendants^(AZ) God has brought to Israel the Savior^(BA) Jesus,^(BB) as he promised.^(BC) ²⁴Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.^(BD) ²⁵As John was completing his work,^(BE) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.^(BF) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’^(BG)

²⁶“Fellow children of Abraham^(BH) and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation^(BI) has been sent. ²⁷The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,^(BJ) yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets^(BK) that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.^(BL) ²⁹When they had carried out all that was written about him,^(BM) they took him down from the cross^(BN) and laid him in a tomb.^(BO) ³⁰But God raised him from the dead,^(BP) ³¹and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.^(BQ) They are now his witnesses^(BR) to our people.

³²“We tell you the good news:^(BS) What God promised our ancestors^(BT) ³³he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.^(BU) As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’^[b]^(BV)

³⁴God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’^[c]^(BW)

³⁵So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’^[d]^(BX)

³⁶“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;^(BY) he was buried with his ancestors^(BZ) and his body decayed. ³⁷But the one whom God raised from the dead^(CA) did not see decay.

³⁸“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.^(CB) ³⁹Through him everyone who believes^(CC) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.^(CD) ⁴⁰Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

⁴¹“‘Look, you scoffers,
    wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
    that you would never believe,
    even if someone told you.’^[e]”^(CE)

⁴²As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,^(CF) the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.^(CG)

⁴⁴On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying^(CH) and heaped abuse^(CI) on him.

⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.^(CJ) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.^(CK) ⁴⁷For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you^[f] a light for the Gentiles,^(CL)
that you^[g] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’^[h]”^(CM)

⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;^(CN) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

⁴⁹The word of the Lord^(CO) spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.^(CP) ⁵¹So they shook the dust off their feet^(CQ) as a warning to them and went to Iconium.^(CR) ⁵²And the disciples^(CS) were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.^(CT)