M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Lord’s Sixth Promise to Abraham
18 Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oak trees belonging to Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 Abraham looked up, and suddenly he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them, and he bowed with his face touching the ground.
3 “Please, sir,” Abraham said, “stop by to visit me for a while. 4 Why don’t we let someone bring a little water? After you wash your feet, you can stretch out and rest under the tree. 5 Let me bring some bread so that you can regain your strength. After that you can leave, since this is why you stopped by to visit me.”
They answered, “That’s fine. Do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to find Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three measures of flour, knead it, and make bread.”
7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and took one of his best calves. He gave it to his servant, who prepared it quickly. 8 Abraham took cheese and milk, as well as the meat, and set these in front of them. Then he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
9 They asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
He answered, “Over there, in the tent.”
10 Yahweh said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 And so Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “Now that I’ve become old, will I enjoy myself again? What’s more, my husband is old!”
13 Yahweh asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh? I will come back to you next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Because she was afraid, Sarah denied that she had laughed.
But Yahweh said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
The Lord Tells Abraham about His Plan
16 Then the men got up to leave. As Abraham was walking with them to see them off, they looked toward Sodom. 17 Yahweh said, “I shouldn’t hide what I am going to do from Abraham. 18 After all, Abraham is going to become a great and mighty nation and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19 I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his family after him to keep the way of Yahweh by doing what is right and just. In this way I, Yahweh, will do what I have promised Abraham.”
20 Yahweh also said, “Sodom and Gomorrah have many complaints against them, and their sin is very serious. 21 I must go down and see whether these complaints are true. If not, I will know it.”
22 From there the men turned and went on toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of Yahweh. 23 Abraham came closer and asked, “Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24 What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won’t you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it? 25 It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
26 Yahweh said, “If I find 50 innocent people inside the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham asked, “Consider now, if I may be so bold as to ask you, although I’m only dust and ashes, 28 what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?”
Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”
29 Abraham asked him again, “What if 40 are found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of the 40 I will not do it.”
30 “Please don’t be angry if I speak again,” Abraham said. “What if 30 are found there?”
He answered, “If I find 30 there, I will not do it.”
31 “Look now, if I may be so bold as to ask you,” Abraham said. “What if 20 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 20.”
32 “Please don’t be angry if I speak only one more time,” Abraham said. “What if 10 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 10.” 33 When Yahweh finished speaking to Abraham, he left. Abraham returned home.
Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(A)
17 After six days Yeshua took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.
2 Yeshua’s appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Yeshua.
4 Peter said to Yeshua, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!”
6 The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. 7 But Yeshua touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid!” 8 As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Yeshua.
9 On their way down the mountain, Yeshua ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life.”
10 So the disciples asked him, “Why do the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Yeshua answered, “Elijah is coming and will put everything in order again. 12 Actually, I can guarantee that Elijah has already come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased because they didn’t recognize him. In the same way they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer.”
13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptizer.
Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(B)
14 When they came to a crowd, a man came up to Yeshua, knelt in front of him, 15 and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”
17 Yeshua replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”
18 Yeshua ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured.
19 Then the disciples came to Yeshua privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy?”
20 He told them, “Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”[a]
Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(C)
22 While they were traveling together in Galilee, Yeshua told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. 23 They will kill him, but on the third day he will be brought back to life.” Then the disciples became very sad.
Paying the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Certainly,” he answered.
Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Yeshua asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?”
26 “From other people,” Peter answered.
Yeshua said to him, “Then the family members are exempt. 27 However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.”
Nehemiah Places Hanani and Hananiah in Charge of Guarding the City Gates
7 The gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were assigned their duties after the wall had been rebuilt and I had hung the doors. 2 I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a trustworthy man, and he feared Elohim more than most people do. 3 I told them, “The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened at the hottest time of the day. While the gatekeepers are still standing there, they should shut the doors and bar them. Order some of the men in Jerusalem to stand guard, some at their posts and others in front of their homes.” 4 The city was large and wide-open. Few people were in it, and no houses were being built.
The First Jewish Exiles Who Returned to Jerusalem
5 Then my Elohim put the idea into my head that I should gather the nobles, leaders, and people so that they could check their genealogy. I found the book with the genealogy of those who came back the first time. I found the following written in it:
6 These were the people in the province. They were the ones who left the place where the exiles had been taken captive. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them captive. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went to their own cities. 7 They went with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
Families Listed by Ancestor(A)
This is the number of Israelite men from the people in exile:
| 8 the descendants of Parosh | 2,172 |
| 9 of Shephatiah | 372 |
| 10 of Arah | 652 |
| 11 of Pahath Moab, that is, of Jeshua and Joab | 2,818 |
| 12 of Elam | 1,254 |
| 13 of Zattu | 845 |
| 14 of Zaccai | 760 |
| 15 of Binnui | 648 |
| 16 of Bebai | 628 |
| 17 of Azgad | 2,322 |
| 18 of Adonikam | 667 |
| 19 of Bigvai | 2,067 |
| 20 of Adin | 655 |
| 21 of Ater, that is, Hezekiah | 98 |
| 22 of Hashum | 328 |
| 23 of Bezai | 324 |
| 24 of Hariph | 112 |
| 25 of Gibeon | 95 |
Families Listed by Towns(B)
| 26 the people of Bethlehem and Netophah | 188 |
| 27 of Anathoth | 128 |
| 28 of Beth Azmaveth | 42 |
| 29 of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth | 743 |
| 30 of Ramah and Geba | 621 |
| 31 of Michmas | 122 |
| 32 of Bethel and Ai | 123 |
| 33 of the other Nebo | 52 |
| 34 of the other Elam | 1,254 |
| 35 of Harim | 320 |
| 36 of Jericho | 345 |
| 37 of Lod, Hadid, and Ono | 721 |
| 38 of Senaah | 3,930 |
Priests(C)
39 These priests returned from exile:
| the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
| 40 of Immer | 1,052 |
| 41 of Pashhur | 1,247 |
| 42 of Harim | 1,017 |
Levites(D)
43 These Levites returned from exile:
| the descendants of Jeshua, that is, of Kadmiel and of Hodeiah | 74 |
44 These singers returned from exile:
| the descendants of Asaph | 148 |
45 These gatekeepers returned from exile:
| the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai | 138 |
Temple Servants(E)
46 These temple servants returned from exile: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros, Sia, Padon, 48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusheshim, 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56 Neziah, and Hatipha.
Descendants of Solomon’s Servants(F)
57 These descendants of Solomon’s servants returned from exile: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Amon.
60 The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.
Those of Unknown Origin(G)
61 The following people came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they couldn’t prove they were Israelites on the basis of their father’s family or their genealogy: 62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. These people totaled 642.
63 These priests couldn’t prove they were Israelites: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and took that family name). 64 These people searched for their family names in the genealogical records, but their names couldn’t be found there. For this reason they were considered contaminated and couldn’t be priests. 65 The governor told them not to eat any of the most holy food until a priest could use the Urim and Thummim[a] to settle the problem.
The Total of the People and Animals Returning from Exile(H)
66 The whole assembly totaled 42,360. 67 In addition to the male and female servants who numbered 7,337, they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,[b] 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
Gifts Given for the Temple(I)
70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to this work. The governor contributed the following to the treasury: nearly 18 pounds of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 robes for the priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the treasury for this work: 337 pounds of gold and 3,215 pounds of silver. 72 The rest of the people contributed 337 pounds of gold, 2,923 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.
73 The priests, Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and the rest of Israel settled in their own cities. When the seventh month came, the people of Israel were in their own cities.
Paul and Silas in Thessalonica
17 Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. On three consecutive days of worship, he had discussions about Scripture with the synagogue members. 3 He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life, and that Yeshua, the person he talked about, was this Messiah.
4 Some of the Jews were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, especially a large group of Greeks who had converted to Judaism and the wives of many prominent men.
5 Then the Jews became jealous. They took some low-class characters who hung around the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 When they didn’t find Paul and Silas, they dragged Jason and some other believers in front of the city officials. They shouted, “Those men who have made trouble all over the world are now here in Thessalonica, 7 and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor’s decrees by saying that there is another king, whose name is Yeshua.”
8 The crowd and the officials were upset when they heard this. 9 But after they had made Jason and the others post bond, they let them go.
10 Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea.
Paul and Silas in Berea
When Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Berea, they entered the synagogue. 11 The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of them became believers, and quite a number of them were prominent Greek men and women.
13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica found out that Paul was also spreading God’s word in Berea, they went there to upset and confuse the people. 14 The believers immediately sent Paul to the seacoast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.
Paul in Athens
15 The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to the city of Athens. When the men left Athens, they took instructions back to Silas and Timothy to join Paul as soon as possible.
16 While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he saw that the city had statues of false gods everywhere. This upset him. 17 He held discussions in the synagogue with Jews and converts to Judaism. He also held discussions every day in the public square with anyone who happened to be there. 18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers had discussions with him. Some asked, “What is this babbling fool trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be speaking about foreign gods.” The philosophers said these things because Paul was telling the Good News about Yeshua and saying that people would come back to life.
19 Then they brought Paul to the city court, the Areopagus, and asked, “Could you tell us these new ideas that you’re teaching? 20 Some of the things you say sound strange to us. So we would like to know what they mean.”
21 Everyone who lived in Athens looked for opportunities to tell or hear something new and unusual.
22 Paul stood in the middle of the court and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious. 23 As I was going through your city and looking closely at the objects you worship, I noticed an altar with this written on it: ‘To an unknown god.’ I’m telling you about the unknown god you worship. 24 The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by humans, 25 and he isn’t served by humans as if he needed anything. He gives everyone life, breath, and everything they have. 26 From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live. 27 He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us. 28 Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, ‘We are God’s children.’ 29 So if we are God’s children, we shouldn’t think that the divine being is like an image made from gold, silver, or stone, an image that is the product of human imagination and skill.
30 “God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 31 He has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice, and he will use a man he has appointed to do this. God has given proof to everyone that he will do this by bringing that man back to life.”
32 When the people of the court heard that a person had come back to life, some began joking about it, while others said, “We’ll hear you talk about this some other time.”
33 With this response, Paul left the court. 34 Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the court, and a woman named Damaris, and some other people.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.