M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
14 It was in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 that they made war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 They had been ruled by Chedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the thirteenth year they went against him. 5 Then in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and won a war against the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shavehkiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as El-paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned around and came to Enmishpat (that is, Kadesh). There they won a war against all the country of the Amalekites and the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined in war against them in the valley of Siddim. 9 They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Siddim valley was full of deep holes with tar. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah turned and ran, and some fell there. But the others ran away into the hill country. 11 Then those who won the war took all that belonged to Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and left. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who lived in Sodom, and all that belonged to him, and left.
13 Then one who had run for his life came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, who were friends of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that one of his family had been taken away, he led 318 men who had been born in his house and whom he had taught to fight. They went after them as far as Dan. 15 Abram divided his army against them by night, he and his servants. They won the war against them, and followed them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then Abram returned with all the things they had taken. He also returned with his brother’s son Lot and all that belonged to him, and the women and the people.
17 After Abram returned from destroying Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s valley). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a religious leader of God Most High. 19 And Melchizedek honored Abram and said, “May good come to Abram from God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. 20 Honor and thanks be to God Most High, Who has given into your hand those who fought against you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all he had taken. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the riches and food for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have promised the Lord God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a piece of string or piece of leather or anything that is yours. Or else you might say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol and Mamre take their share.”
Jesus Teaches with Picture-Stories (A)
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the shore of the lake. 2 Then He got in a boat and sat down because so many people had gathered around Him. Many people were standing on the shore.
The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seeds
3 Jesus taught them many things by using picture-stories. He said, “A man went out to plant seeds. 4 As he planted the seeds, some fell by the side of the road. The birds came and ate the seeds. 5 Some seeds fell between rocks. The seeds came up at once because there was so little ground. 6 When the sun was high in the sky, they dried up and died because they had no root. 7 Some seeds fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seeds room to grow. 8 Some seeds fell on good ground and gave much grain. Some gave one hundred times as much grain. Some gave sixty times as much grain. Some gave thirty times as much grain. 9 You have ears, then listen.”
Why Jesus Used Picture-Stories
10 The followers of Jesus came to Him and said, “Why do You speak to them in picture-stories?” 11 He said to the followers, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of heaven. The secrets were not given to the others. 12 He who has will have more given to him. He will have even more than enough. But he who has little will have even that taken away from him.
13 “This is why I speak to them in picture-stories. They have eyes but they do not see. They have ears but they do not hear and they do not understand. 14 It happened in their lives as Isaiah said it would happen. He said, ‘You hear and hear but do not understand. You look and look but do not see. 15 The hearts of these people have become fat. They hear very little with their ears. They have closed their eyes. If they did not do this, they would see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts. Then they would be changed in their ways, and I would heal them.’ (B) 16 But how great are your eyes because they see. How great are your ears because they hear. 17 For sure, I tell you, that many early preachers and men right with God have wanted to see the things you see, but they did not see them. They wanted to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear them.
Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted Seeds
18 “Listen to the picture-story of the man who planted seeds in the ground. 19 When anyone hears the Word about the holy nation and does not understand it, the devil comes and takes away what was put in his heart. He is like the seed that fell by the side of the road. 20 The seed which fell between rocks is like the person who receives the Word with joy as soon as he hears it. 21 Its root is not deep and it does not last long. When troubles and suffering come because of the Word, he gives up and falls away. 22 The seed which fell among thorns is like the person who hears the Word but the cares of this life, and the love for money let the thorns come up and do not give the seed room to grow and give grain. 23 The seed which fell on good ground is like the one who hears the Word and understands it. He gives much grain. Some seed gives one hundred times as much grain. Some gives sixty times as much grain. Some gives thirty times as much grain.”
The Picture-Story of the Good Seed and the Weed Seed
24 Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field. 25 During the night someone who hated him came and planted weed seed with the good seed in his field and went away. 26 When the good seed started to grow and give grain, weeds came up also.
27 “The servants of the man who planted the seed came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not plant good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds also?’ 28 The man who planted the seed said, ‘Someone who hates me has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull the weeds out from among the good grain?’ 29 He said, ‘No, because if you pull out the weeds, the good grain will come up also. 30 Let them grow together until the time to gather the grain. Then I will say to the workmen, “Gather the weeds first and put them together to be burned. Then gather the good grain into my building.”’”
The Picture-Story of the Mustard Seed
31 Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like mustard seed which a man planted in his field. 32 It is the smallest of seeds. But when it is full-grown, it is larger than the grain of the fields and it becomes a tree. The birds of the sky come and stay in its branches.”
The Picture-Story of the Yeast
33 Jesus gave them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like yeast that a woman put into three pails of flour until it had become much more than at first.”
34 Jesus told all these things using picture-stories to the many people. He did not speak to them without using picture-stories. 35 It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, “I will open My mouth in picture-stories. I will tell things which have been kept secret from the beginning of the world.” (C)
Jesus Tells about the Weed Seed
36 After Jesus sent the people away, He went into the house. His followers came to Him and said, “Tell us what You mean by the picture-story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus said, “He Who plants the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the holy nation. The weeds are the children of the devil. 39 The devil is the one who got in and planted the weeds. The time to gather is the end of the world. The men who gather are the angels. 40 As the weeds are gathered together and burned in the fire, so will it be in the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send His angels. They will gather out of His holy nation all things that cause people to sin and those who do sin. 42 They will put them into a stove of fire. There will be loud crying and grinding of teeth. 43 Then the ones right with God will shine as the sun in the holy nation of their Father. You have ears, then listen!”
The Picture-Stories of the Gold Buried in the Field and of Buying a Pearl
44 “The holy nation of heaven is like a box of riches buried in a field. A man found it and then hid it again. In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the holy nation of heaven is like a man who buys and sells. He is looking for good pearls. 46 When he finds one good pearl worth much money, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
The Picture-Story of the Fish Net
47 “The holy nation of heaven is like a big net which was let down into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, they took it to the shore. They sat down and put the good fish into pails. They threw the bad fish away. 49 It will be like this in the end of the world. Angels will come and take the sinful people from among those who are right with God. 50 They will put the sinful people into a stove of fire where there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.”
51 Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these picture-stories?” They said, “Yes, Lord!” 52 He said to them, “Every teacher of the Law who has become a follower of the holy nation of heaven is like a man who owns his house. He takes new and old riches from his house.”
They Do Not Believe in Jesus in Nazareth (D)
53 When Jesus had finished these picture-stories, He went away from there. 54 He came to His own town and taught them in their places of worship. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get this wisdom? How can He do these powerful works? 55 Is not this the son of the man who makes things from wood? Is not Mary His mother? Are not James and Joseph and Simon and Judas His brothers? 56 And are not all His sisters here? Then where did He get all these things?” 57 And they were ashamed of Him and turned away because of Him. Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is shown no respect in his own town and in his own house.”
58 He did not do many powerful works there because they did not put their trust in Him.
Work on the Wall
3 Then Eliashib the head religious leader and his brothers the religious leaders started to work and built the Sheep Gate. They set it apart as holy, and hung its doors. They set apart as holy the wall to the Tower of the Hundred, and to the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built next to him. And Zaccur the son of Imri built next to them.
3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid the long wood pieces that hold up the gate and hung its doors with its iron pieces. 4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, did the needed work. Next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, did the needed work. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana did the needed work. 5 Next to him the Tekoites did the needed work, but their rulers would not do the work they were told to do by their lords.
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah did the needed work on the Old Gate. They laid its long wood pieces and hung its doors with its iron pieces. 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite did the needed work. They were the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the rule of the leader of the land on the other side of the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, who worked with gold, did the needed work. Next to him Hananiah, one of the men who made perfume, did the needed work. They made Jerusalem like new as far as the Wide Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the leader of half of Jerusalem, did the needed work. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph did the needed work beside his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah did the needed work. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab did the needed work on another part and on the Tower of the Stoves. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the leader of half of Jerusalem, did the needed work, he and his daughters. 13 Hanun and the people of Zanoah did the needed work on the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its iron pieces. And they built the wall to the Waste Gate, as far as 500 long steps. 14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the leader of Beth-haccherem did the needed work on the Waste Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its iron pieces. 15 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the leader of Mizpah, did the needed work on the Well Gate. He built it, covered it, and hung its doors with its iron pieces. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the King’s Garden as far as the steps that go down from the City of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, leader of half of Beth-zur, did the needed work as far as David’s grave, and as far as the Man-made Pool and the House of the Powerful Men.
Levites Who Worked on the Wall
17 After him the Levites did the needed work, led by Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the leader of half of Keilah, did the needed work for his part of the city. 18 After him their brothers did the needed work, led by Bavvai the son of Henadad, leader of the other half of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the leader of Mizpah, did the needed work on another part, in front of the hill up to the place where the things for battle were kept at the turn of the wall. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai did the needed work with much care on another part, from the turn of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the head religious leader. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz did the needed work on another part from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of the house.
Religious Leaders Who Worked on the Wall
22 After him the religious leaders, the men of the valley, did the needed work. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub did the needed work in front of their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, did the needed work beside his house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad did the needed work on another part, from the house of Azariah as far as the turn of the wall, and to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai did the needed work in front of the turn of the wall and the tower which stands out from the upper house of the king, by the open space of the house soldiers. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the servants of the house of worship living in Ophel did the needed work as far as the front of the Water Gate on the east and the tall tower. 27 After him the Tekoites did the needed work on another part in front of the tall tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 The religious leaders did the needed work above the Horse Gate. Each one worked in front of his house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer did the needed work in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, did the needed work. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, did the needed work on another part. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah did the needed work in front of his own room. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the men who worked with gold, did the needed work as far as the house of the servants of the Lord’s house and of the traders. He worked in front of the Master Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner. 32 The gold-workers and the traders did the needed work between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate.
Saul and Barnabas Are Called to Be Missionaries
13 In the church in the city of Antioch there were preachers and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of the country of Cyrene, Manaen of Herod’s family, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and eating no food so they could pray better, the Holy Spirit said, “Let Barnabas and Saul be given to Me for the work I have called them to.”
Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch
3 These preachers and teachers went without food during that time and prayed. Then they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them away. 4 They were sent by the Holy Spirit to the city of Seleucia. From there they went by ship to the island of Cyprus. 5 When they went to shore at the city of Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the Jewish place of worship. John Mark was with them as their helper.
6 They went over Cyprus as far as the city of Paphos. While there, they found a Jew who did witchcraft. He was a false preacher named Barjesus. 7 Sergius Paulus was the leader of the country and a man who knew much. Barjesus was with Sergius Paulus. Sergius Paulus asked Barnabas and Saul to come to him so he might hear the Word of God. 8 But Elymas (as he called himself), the man who did witchcraft, worked against Barnabas and Saul. He tried to keep the leader of the country from putting his trust in the Lord.
9 Saul, whose other name was Paul, was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked at Elymas. 10 Then Saul said, “You false preacher and trouble-maker! You son of the devil! You hate what is right! Will you always be turning people from the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now look! The hand of the Lord is on you. You will become blind. For a time you will not be able to see the sun.” At once it became dark to Elymas, and he could not see. He asked people to take him by the hand to lead him from place to place.
12 The leader of the country put his trust in the Lord because he saw what had happened. He was surprised and wondered about the teaching of the Lord. 13 Paul and those with him went by ship from Paphos to the city of Perga in the country of Pamphylia. John Mark did not go with them but went back to Jerusalem.
Paul Preaches in Antioch
14 From Perga they went on to the city of Antioch in the country of Pisidia. On the Day of Rest they went into the Jewish place of worship and sat down. 15 After the leaders had read from the Jewish Law and the writings of the early preachers, they sent to them saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of comfort and help for the people, say it now.” 16 Paul got up. He raised his hand and said, “Jewish men and you who honor God, listen! 17 The God of the Jews chose our early fathers and made them a great people during the time they lived in the land of Egypt. With a strong hand He took them out from there. 18 For about forty years He took care of them in the desert. 19 He destroyed the people of seven nations in the land of Canaan. Then He divided the land and gave it to them as their own. 20 For about 450 years He let them have special leaders. They had these leaders until the time of Samuel.
21 “Then they wanted a king. God gave them Saul who was the son of Kish from the family group of Benjamin. He was king forty years. 22 When God took Saul as king from them, He made David to be their king. He said, ‘David, Jesse’s son, will please My heart. He will do all I want done.’
23 “From this man’s family, God gave to the Jews the One Who saves from the punishment of sin as He had promised. He is Jesus. 24 Before Jesus came, John had preached to all the Jews that they should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and turned from them. 25 When John was near the end of his work, he asked, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the Christ. No, but He is coming later and I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes!’
26 “Men and brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and all of you who honor God, listen! This news of being able to be saved from the punishment of sin has been sent to you. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their leaders did not know Him. They did not understand the words from the early preachers. These words were read to them every Day of Rest. But they did the very thing the early preachers had said they would do by handing Him over to die. 28 They could find no reason that He should die, but they asked Pilate to have Him killed. 29 When everything was done that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a grave. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 For many days He was seen by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are the ones who tell the people about Him.
32 “We bring you the Good News about the promise made to our early fathers. 33 God has finished this for us who are their children. He did this by raising Jesus from the dead. It is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father.’ (A) 34 God proved that Jesus was His Son by raising Him from the dead. He will never die again. He has said, ‘I will complete the promises made to David.’ (B)
35 “In another Psalm He says, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to go back to dust!’ (C) 36 David was a good leader for the people of his day. He did what God wanted. Then he died and was put into a grave close to his father’s grave. His body went back to dust. 37 But God raised this One (Christ) to life. He did not go back to dust.
38 “Men and brothers, listen to this. You may be forgiven of your sins by this One I am telling you about. 39 Everyone who puts his trust in Christ will be made right with God. You will be made free from those things the Law of Moses could not make you free from. 40 But look out! The writings of the early preachers tell of many things that you do not want to happen to you. 41 ‘Listen, you who doubt and laugh at the truth will die. I will do a work during your days. It will be a work that you will not believe even if someone tells you about it.’” (D)
42 As Paul and Barnabas went out of the Jewish place of worship, the people asked them to talk about these things on the next Day of Rest. 43 The people went from the place of worship. Many Jews and others who had become Jews followed Paul and Barnabas as they talked to the Jews. They told them to keep on trusting in the loving-favor of God.
Paul and Barnabas Go to the People Who Are Not Jews
44 Almost all of the people of the town came to hear the Word of God on the next Day of Rest. 45 The Jews were filled with jealousy when they saw so many people. They spoke against the things Paul said by saying he was wrong. They also spoke against God. 46 Paul and Barnabas said to the people in plain words, “We must preach the Word of God to you first. But because you put it aside, you are not good enough for life that lasts forever. So we will go to the people who are not Jews. 47 The Lord gave us a work to do. He said, ‘You are to be a light to the people who are not Jews. You are to preach so that men over all the earth can be saved from the punishment of their sins.’” (E)
48 The people who were not Jews were glad when they heard this. They were thankful for the Word of God. Those who were chosen for life that lasts forever believed. 49 The Word of God was preached over all that land.
50 The Jews worked on the feelings of the women who were religious and respected. They worked on the leading men of the city also. They worked against Paul and Barnabas and made them leave their city. 51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off from their feet against them and went to the city of Iconium. 52 The missionaries were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.