The Daily Audio Bible
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1 God created the first person, our forefather, Adam. His lineage descended nine generations until the flood: Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. 4 Our ancestor Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. From these, three distinct nations arose.
The history of Israel begins with the creation of the world.
5 The sons of Japheth fathered the nations north of Israel. They were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. 7 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8 Three sons of Ham fathered the nations south of Israel. They were Cush (the Ethiopians), Mizraim (the Egyptians), and Put (the northern Africans). Noah condemned Ham’s fourth son, Canaan, whose descendants we conquered. 9 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca; the sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. 10 Cush fathered Nimrod (the first hero on earth). 11 Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 12 Pathrus, Casluh (from whom the Philistines descended), and Caphtor. 13 Canaan was the forefather of our eastern neighbors: Sidon (his first son), Heth, 14 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 15 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 16 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
17 Shem fathered the Semitic nations. His sons were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Aram fathered Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. 19 Eber had two sons, Peleg (whose name means “divided” because the earth was divided during his life) and his brother, Joktan. 20 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.
24 Our ancestry descended nine generations directly from Shem: Arpachshad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, and finally 27 Abram (whom God renamed Abraham). 28 Our ancestor Abraham, who formed our people’s initial covenant with God, fathered two sons: Isaac and Ishmael.
29 Ishmael fathered Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
32 Abraham also fathered sons by a concubine, Keturah: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan’s sons were Sheba and Dedan. 33 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
34 Abraham’s second son, Isaac, fathered two sons: Esau (the ancestor of Edom) and Israel (our ancestor).
35 The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 36 Eliphaz fathered Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, and by Timna, Amalek. 37 Reuel fathered Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38 Seir fathered Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 39 Lotan (whose sister was Timna) fathered Hori and Homam. 40 Shobal fathered Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon fathered Aiah and Anah. 41 Anah’s son was Dishon, who fathered Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 Ezer fathered Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. Dishan (son of Seir) fathered Uz and Aran.
43 These men were kings in Edom long before our ancestors reigned in Israel. Bela (the son of Beor) ruled the city of Dinhabah. 44 When Bela died, Jobab (the son of Zerah of Bozrah) succeeded him. 45 When Jobab died, Husham (a Temanite) became king. 46 When Husham died, Hadad (the son of Bedad who crushed Midian in the field of Moab) succeeded Husham and renamed the city Avith. 47 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him. 48 When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth by the Euphrates River succeeded him. 49 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan (the son of Achbor) became king. 50 When Baal-hanan died, Hadad ascended to the throne. Hadad named his city Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab. 51 When Hadad died, the monarchy crumbled and Edom was ruled by chiefs: Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel, and Iram.
2 The sons of our ancestor Israel (the brother of Esau) were the forefathers of the twelve tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3 The sons of Judah (Er, Onan, and Shelah) were born to his wife Bath-shua of Canaan. Er (Judah’s firstborn) was wicked in the eyes of the Eternal One, so He put him to death. Er’s widow (and Judah’s own daughter-in-law), 4 Tamar, gave birth to Judah’s youngest children, Perez and Zerah, giving Judah a total of five sons. 5 Perez fathered Hezron and Hamul. 6 Zerah fathered five sons: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara. 7 The son of Carmi (the grandson of Zimri) was Achar, the troublemaker in Israel who violated the ban against taking the spoils of Jericho. 8 The son of Ethan was Azariah.
9 King David descended from Perez’s first son. Hezron fathered Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10 Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, the leader of the tribe of Judah. 11 Nahshon’s son was Salma, who fathered Boaz. 12 Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed’s son was Jesse. Jesse had seven sons: 13 Eliab (his firstborn), Abinadab (the second), Shimea (the third), 14 Nethanel (the fourth), Raddai (the fifth), 15 Ozem (the sixth), and David (the seventh). 16 David had two sisters: Zeruiah and Abigail. The three sons of Zeruiah were Abshai, Joab, and Asahel. 17 Abigail married Jether the Ishmaelite and gave birth to Amasa.
11 That night the Lord came near and spoke to him.
The Lord: Keep up your courage, Paul! You have successfully told your story about Me in Jerusalem, and soon you will do the same in Rome.
12-13 That morning a group of more than 40 Jewish opponents conspired to kill Paul. They bound themselves by an oath that they wouldn’t eat or drink until he was dead. 14 They told the chief priests and elders about their plan.
Jewish Opponents: We’ve made an oath not to eat or drink until this man is dead. 15 So you and the council must ask the commandant to bring Paul to meet with you. Tell him that you want to further investigate Paul’s case. We’ll get rid of the troublemaker on his way here.
16 Now Paul had a nephew who heard about the planned ambush; he managed to gain entry into the barracks and alerted Paul. 17 Paul called one of the officers.
Paul: Take this young man to the commandant. He has news the commandant needs to hear.
18 The officer took him to the commandant.
Officer: The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this man to you. He has some kind of information.
19 The commandant led him away so they could speak in private.
Commandant: What do you want to tell me?
Young Man: 20 The Jewish council is going to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow under the pretext that there will be a thorough examination. 21 But don’t agree to do it, because 40 assassins have bound themselves to an oath not to eat or drink until they’ve killed Paul. Their plan is in motion, and they’re simply waiting for you to play your part.
22 The commandant sent the young man home with these instructions: “Don’t tell a soul that you’ve spoken with me.” 23 Then he called for two officers.
Commandant: At nine o’clock tonight, you will leave for Caesarea with 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen. 24 Have a mount for Paul to ride, and conduct him safely to Felix the governor.
25 He wrote the following letter:
26 Commandant Claudius Lysias greets his excellency, Felix, Governor. 27 The accompanying prisoner was seized by Jews who were about to kill him. I learned he was a Roman citizen and intervened with the guard here to protect him. 28 I arranged for a hearing before their council 29 and learned that he was accused for reasons relating to their religious law, but that he has done nothing deserving imprisonment or execution. 30 I was informed that a group was planning to assassinate him, so I sent him to you immediately. I will require his accusers to present their complaint before you.
31 So the soldiers followed their orders and safely conducted Paul as far as Antipatris that night. 32-33 The next day, the horsemen conducted him on to Caesarea as the foot soldiers returned to the barracks. The horsemen delivered the letter and the prisoner to Felix who read the letter. 34 The only question Felix asked concerned the province of Paul’s birth. When he learned Paul was from Cilicia, 35 he said,
Felix: As soon as your accusers arrive I will hear your case.
He placed Paul under guard within Herod’s headquarters.
Psalm 3
A song of David composed while fleeing from his son Absalom.
This Davidic psalm recalls the time when David fled from Jerusalem after Absalom, his son, rebelled and claimed the throne (2 Samuel 15–17).
1 Eternal One, my adversaries are many, too many to count.
Now they have taken a stand against me!
2 Right to my face they say,
“God will not save you!”
[pause][a]
3 But You, Eternal One, wrap around me like an impenetrable shield.
You give me glory and lift my eyes up to the heavens.
4 I lift my voice to You, Eternal One,
and You answer me from Your sacred heights.
[pause]
5 I lie down at night and fall asleep.
I awake in the morning—healthy, strong, vibrant—because the Eternal supports me.
6 No longer will I fear my tens of thousands of enemies
who have surrounded me!
7 Rise up, O Eternal One!
Rescue me, O God!
For You have dealt my enemies a strong blow to the jaw!
You have shattered their teeth! Do so again.
8 Liberation truly comes from the Eternal.
Let Your blessings shower down upon Your people.
[pause]
14 The human spirit can endure a long illness,
but who can survive a crushed spirit?
15 Clever people go after knowledge to obtain it,
and wise people attune their ears to hear it.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.