M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Samson Defeats the Philistines
15 After a while, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat.[a] He said, “I want to go to my wife’s private room.” But her father would not allow him to enter. 2 Her father said, “I really thought that you hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please, take her instead.”[b] 3 And Samson said to them, “This time, as far as the Philistines are concerned, when I do something evil I am without blame.” 4 And Samson went and captured three hundred foxes, and he took torches. He turned them tail to tail, and he put one torch between two tails. 5 He set fire to the torches and let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and he burned both the stacks[c] of sheaves and the standing grain, up to the vineyards[d] of olive groves. 6 And the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” And the Philistines went up and burned her and her father with fire. 7 Samson said to them, “If you want to behave like this, I swear I will not rest unless I have taken revenge on you.” 8 And he gave them a thorough beating,[e] and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.
9 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah, and they overran Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” And they said, “To bind Samson; to do to him just as he did to us.” 11 Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and they said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are ruling over us? What is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “Just as they did to me, so I have done to them.” 12 They said to him, “We have come down to bind you and give you over into the hand of the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.” 13 They said to him, “No, we will only bind you and give you into their hand; we will certainly not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes, and they brought him up from the rock.
14 As he came up to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him; and the Spirit of Yahweh rushed on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that has burned with fire, and his bindings melted from his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey; he reached down and took it and killed one thousand men with it. 16 And Samson said,
“With the jawbone of the donkey,
heap upon heap;
with the jawbone of the donkey,
I struck dead one thousand men.”
17 And it happened, when he finished speaking he threw the jawbone from his hand; and he called that place Ramath Lehi.[f]
18 And he was very thirsty, and he called to Yahweh and said, “You gave this great victory into the hand of your servant, but now I must die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” 19 So God split the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it; and he drank, and his spirit returned, and he was revived. Thus he called its name The Spring of Ha-Qore,[g] which is at Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Paul Finds Disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus
19 And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and[a] came[b] to Ephesus and found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you[c] believed?” And they said to him, “But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into the baptism of John.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus.” 5 And when they[d] heard this,[e] they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when[f] Paul laid hands[g] on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak[h] in tongues and to prophesy. 7 (Now the total number of men was about twelve.)
8 So he entered into the synagogue and[i] was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convince[j] them[k] concerning[l] the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them and[m] took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia[n] heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Would-be Exorcists
11 And God was performing extraordinary[o] miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons that had touched his skin[p] were carried away to those who were sick, and their[q] diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.[r] 13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 (Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.) 15 But the evil spirit answered and[s] said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?” 16 And the man who had the evil spirit[t] leaped on them, subdued all of them, and[u] prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted. 18 And many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 and many of those who practiced magic brought together their[v] books and[w] burned them[x] up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was fifty thousand silver coins.[y] 20 In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing.
A Major Riot in Ephesus
21 Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.” 22 So after[z] sending two of those who were assisting him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed some time in Asia.[aa]
23 Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For someone named[ab] Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These[ac] he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, and[ad] said, “Men, you know that from this business we get our prosperity,[ae] 26 and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia[af] this man Paul has persuaded and[ag] turned away a large crowd by[ah] saying that the gods made by hands are not gods. 27 So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours will come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing—and she is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, she whom the whole of Asia[ai] and the entire world worship!”
28 And when they[aj] heard this[ak] and became full of rage, they began to shout,[al] saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 And the city was filled with the tumult, and with one purpose they rushed into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were traveling companions of Paul. 30 But when[am] Paul wanted to enter into the popular assembly, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs[an] who were his friends sent word[ao] to him and[ap] were urging him[aq] not to risk himself by going into the theater. 32 So some were shouting one thing[ar] and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know why[as] they had assembled. 33 And some of the crowd advised[at] Alexander, when[au] the Jews put him forward. But Alexander, motioning with his[av] hand, was wanting to defend himself to the popular assembly. 34 But when they[aw] recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all of them for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 And when[ax] the city secretary had quieted the crowd, he said, “Ephesian men, for who is there among men who does not know the Ephesian city is honorary temple keeper of the great Artemis and of her[ay] image fallen from heaven? 36 Therefore because[az] these things are undeniable, it is necessary that you be quiet and do nothing rash! 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the court days are observed and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another! 39 But if you desire anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, since there[ba] is no cause in relation to which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorderly gathering!” And when he[bb] had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.[bc]
Hananiah, the False Prophet
28 And it was in that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah, the son of Azzur, the prophet who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of Yahweh before the eyes of the priests and all the people, saying,[a] 2 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, saying,[b] ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years[c] I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the house of Yahweh which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon took away from this place and brought to Babylon. 4 And Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and all the exiles[d] from Judah who went to Babylon, I will bring back to this place,’ declares[e] Yahweh, ‘For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet before the eyes of the priests and before the eyes of all the people who were standing in the house of Yahweh, 6 and Jeremiah the prophet said, “Amen! May Yahweh do so; may Yahweh fulfill your words that you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the house of Yahweh and all the exiles[f] from Babylon to this place. 7 Nevertheless listen please to this word that I am speaking in your hearing[g] and in the hearing[h] of all the people, 8 The prophets who were before[i] me and before[j] you from ancient times prophesied against many countries and against great kingdoms of war, and of disaster, and of plague. 9 The prophet who prophesies peace, at the coming of the word of the prophet, will become known as the prophet that Yahweh has truly[k] sent.”
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11 Then Hananiah said before the eyes of all the people, saying,[l] “Thus says Yahweh, ‘This is how I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, within two years,[m] from the neck of all the nations.’” And Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.
12 And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet broke the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, saying,[n] 13 “Go, and you must say to Hananiah, saying,[o] ‘Thus says Yahweh, “You have broken yoke bars of wood, but you have made in place of them yoke bars of iron.” 14 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and they will serve him, and I have even given the animals[p] of the open field to him.”’”
15 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Please listen, Hananiah, Yahweh has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore[q] thus says Yahweh, ‘Look, I am going to send you from the face of the earth. This year you will die because you have spoken rebellion against Yahweh.’” 17 And Hananiah the prophet died in that same year in the seventh month.
The Chief Priests and Scribes Plot to Kill Jesus
14 Now after two days it was the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, after[a] arresting him by stealth, they could kill him.[b] 2 For they said, “Not at the feast, lest there be an uproar by the people.”
Jesus’ Anointing at Bethany
3 And while[c] he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as[d] he was reclining for a meal, a woman came holding an alabaster flask of very costly perfumed oil of genuine nard. After[e] breaking the alabaster flask, she poured it[f] out on his head. 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another:[g] “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? 5 For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold[h] her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She has done a good deed to me. 7 For the poor you always have with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand[i] for burial. 9 And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.
Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus
10 And Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when[j] they heard this,[k] they were delighted, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking[l] how he could betray him conveniently.
Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples
12 And on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and[m] prepare, so that you can eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15 And he will show you a large upstairs room furnished[n] and[o] ready, and prepare for us there.” 16 And the disciples went out and came into the city and found everything[p] just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 And when it[q] was evening, he arrived with the twelve. 18 And while[r] they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you who is eating with me will betray me.” 19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”[s] 20 But he said to them, “It is one of the twelve—the one who is dipping bread[t] into the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if that man had not been born.”
The Lord’s Supper
22 And while[u] they were eating, he took bread and,[v] after[w] giving thanks, he broke it[x] and gave it[y] to them and said, “Take it,[z] this is my body.” 23 And after[aa] taking the cup and[ab] giving thanks, he gave it[ac] to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine any longer until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And after they[ad] had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd
and the sheep will be scattered.’[ae]
28 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to him, “Even if they all fall away, certainly I will not!” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that today—this night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times!” 31 But he kept saying emphatically, “If it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
The Prayer in Gethsemane
32 And they came to a place named[af] Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took along Peter and James and John with him, and he began to be distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” 35 And going forward a little he fell to the ground and began to pray[ag] that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba,[ah] Father, all things are possible for you! Take away this cup from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”[ai] 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” 39 And again he went away and[aj] prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And again he came and[ak] found them sleeping, for they could not keep their eyes open,[al] and they did not know what to reply to him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us go! Behold, the one who is betraying me is approaching!”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
43 And immediately, while[am] he was still speaking, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss—he is the one.[an] Arrest him and lead him[ao] away under guard!” 45 And when he[ap] arrived, he came up to him immediately and[aq] said, “Rabbi,” and kissed him. 46 So they laid hands on him and arrested him.
47 But a certain one of the bystanders, drawing his[ar] sword, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and[as] said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple courts[at] teaching, and you did not arrest me! But this has happened[au] in order that the scriptures would be fulfilled. 50 And they all abandoned him and[av] fled.
51 And a certain young man was following him, clothed only in a linen cloth on his naked body. And they attempted to seize[aw] him, 52 but he left behind the linen cloth and[ax] fled naked.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter followed him from a distance, right inside, into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, and they did not find it.[ay] 56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their[az] testimony was not consistent. 57 And some stood up and[ba] began to give false testimony[bb] against him, saying, 58 “We heard him saying, ‘I will destroy this temple made by hands, and within three days I will build another not made by hands.” 59 And their testimony was not even consistent about this. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst of them and[bc] asked Jesus, saying, “Do you not reply anything? What are these people testifying against you?” 61 But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power[bd] and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his clothes and[be] said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”[bf] And they all condemned him as deserving death.[bg] 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, and to say to him “Prophesy!” And the officers received him with slaps in the face.[bh]
Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
66 And while[bi] Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female slaves of the high priest came up 67 And when[bj] she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and[bk] said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it,[bl] saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean!” And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed.[bm] 69 And the female slave, when she[bn] saw him, began to say again to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!” 70 But he denied it[bo] again. And after a little while, again the bystanders began to say[bp] to Peter, “You really are one of them, because you also are a Galilean, and your accent shows it!”[bq][br] 71 And he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know this man whom you are talking about!” 72 And immediately a rooster crowed for the second time. And Peter remembered the statement, how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times,” and throwing himself down, he began to weep.[bs]
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software