M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Adoni-bezek Is Taken

1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel asked the Lord, “Who will be first to go up and fight against the Canaanites for us?” ² The Lord said, “Judah will go up. See, I have given the land into his hand.” ³ Then Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me into the land which is given to me. Let us fight against the Canaanites together. Then I will go with you into the land which is given to you.” So Simeon went with him. ⁴ Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands. They killed 10,000 men at Bezek. ⁵ They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they won the war against the Canaanites and the Perizzites. ⁶ Adoni-bezek tried to run away, but they went after him and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes. ⁷ Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off had to gather their food under my table. Now God has paid me for what I have done.” So they brought him to Jerusalem and there he died.

⁸ Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it. They destroyed it with the sword and set the city on fire. ⁹ After this the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, in the Negev and in the plains. ¹⁰ Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron was Kiriath-arba before.) They won the war against Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.

¹¹ From there Judah went against the people of Debir. (The name of Debir was Kiriath-sepher before.) ¹² Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to the one who fights against Kiriath-sepher and takes it.” ¹³ Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took the city. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah for a wife. ¹⁴ When she came to Othniel, she talked him into asking her father for a field. As she came down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” ¹⁵ She said to him, “Give me a special gift. You have given me the land of the Negev. Give me the wells of water also.” So Caleb gave her the wells in the high land and in the valley.

¹⁶ The children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went with the people of Judah from Jericho to the desert of Judah south of Arad. They went and lived with the people. ¹⁷ Then Judah went with his brother Simeon. They killed the Canaanites living in Zephath and destroyed the whole city. The name of the city was called Hormah. ¹⁸ Judah took Gaza with its land, Ashkelon with its land, and Ekron with its land. ¹⁹ The Lord was with Judah. They took the hill country for their own. They could not drive out the people living in the valley, because they had iron war-wagons. ²⁰ They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised, and he drove out the three sons of Anak. ²¹ But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

²² The men of the family of Joseph went up against Bethel. And the Lord was with them. ²³ Those of the family of Joseph spied out Bethel. (The name of the city was Luz before.) ²⁴ The men who were spying out Bethel saw a man coming out of the city. They said to him, “Show us the way into the city, and we will be kind to you.” ²⁵ So he showed them the way into the city. They destroyed the city with the sword. But they let the man and all his family go free. ²⁶ The man went into the land of the Hittites. He built a city there and gave it the name of Luz. That is its name to this day.

Some of the People Were Not Driven Out of the Land

²⁷ But the men of Manasseh did not take for their own Bethshean and its towns or Taanach and its towns. They did not drive out the people of Dor and its towns, or of Ibleam and its towns, or of Megiddo and its towns. So the Canaanites stayed in that land. ²⁸ When Israel became strong, they made the Canaanites work for them. But they did not drive all of them out.

²⁹ Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. So the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.

³⁰ Zebulun did not drive out the people of Kitron or the people of Nahalol. So the Canaanites lived among them and were made to work.

³¹ Asher did not drive out the people of Acco, or the people of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. ³² So the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the people of the land. For they did not drive them out.

³³ Naphtali did not drive out the people of Beth-shemesh or the people of Beth-anath. But they lived among the Canaanites, the people of the land. The people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were made to work for them.

³⁴ The Amorites drove the people of Dan into the hill country. They did not let them come down to the valley. ³⁵ The Amorites would not leave Mount Heres, Aijalon or Shaalbim. But when the family of Joseph became strong, they made the Amorites work for them. ³⁶ The land of the Amorites was from the hill-side of Akrabbim, up from Sela.

The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira

5 A man by the name of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some land. ² He kept back part of the money for himself. His wife knew it also. The other part he took to the missionaries. ³ Peter said to Ananias, “Why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You kept back part of the money you got from your land. ⁴ Was not the land yours before you sold it? After it was sold, you could have done what you wanted to do with the money. Why did you allow your heart to do this? You have lied to God, not to men.”

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down dead. Much fear came on all those who heard what was done. ⁶ The young men got up and covered his body and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in. She did not know what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount of money?” She said, “Yes.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How could you two have talked together about lying to the Holy Spirit? See! Those who buried your husband are standing at the door and they will carry you out also.” ¹⁰ At once she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found that she was dead. They took her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Much fear came on all the church and on all who heard it.

The First Church Grows

¹² The missionaries did many powerful works among the people. They gathered together on Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ No one from outside their own group came in with them because they were afraid. But those outside the church had respect for the followers. ¹⁴ Many more men and women put their trust in Christ and were added to the group. ¹⁵ They brought the sick people and laid them on the streets hoping that if Peter walked by, his shadow would fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Many people went into Jerusalem from towns nearby. They took with them their sick people and all who were troubled with demons. All of them were healed.

The Missionaries Are Put in Prison

¹⁷ The head religious leader heard this. Some of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead also heard of the people being healed. They became very jealous. ¹⁸ They took hold of the missionaries and put them in prison. ¹⁹ An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison in the night and let them out. The angel said to them, ²⁰ “Go, stand where you have been standing in the house of God. Keep on telling the people about this new life.”

²¹ When Peter and John heard this, they went in the house of God early in the morning and began to teach. When the head religious leader and those with him had come, they gathered the men of the court and the leaders of the Jews together. Then they sent to have the missionaries brought to them from the prison. ²² When the soldiers got there, they did not find them in prison. They went back and told the court. ²³ The soldiers said, “We found the door of the prison locked and the soldiers watching the doors. When we opened the door, we found no one inside.”

²⁴ When the religious leaders and the leader of the house of God heard this, they were much troubled as to what might happen. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, “The men you put in prison are now standing in the house of God and teaching the people.” ²⁶ The leader of the house of God took his men and got them. They did not hurt the missionaries because they were afraid the people would throw stones at them.

²⁷ They brought the missionaries in and made them stand in front of the court. The head religious leader said, ²⁸ “We told you not to teach about Christ! See! You are spreading this teaching over all Jerusalem. Now you are making it look as if we are guilty of killing this Man.”

The Missionaries Speak the Truth

²⁹ Then Peter and the missionaries said, “We must obey God instead of men! ³⁰ The God of our early fathers raised up Jesus, the One you killed and nailed to a cross. ³¹ God raised this Man to His own right side as a leader and as the One Who saves from the punishment of sin. He makes it possible for the Jews to be sorry for their sins. Then they can turn from them and be forgiven. ³² We have seen these things and are telling about them. The Holy Spirit makes these things known also. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel Speaks in Court

³³ The religious leaders became angry when they heard this. They planned to kill the missionaries. ³⁴ Gamaliel was a man of the religious leaders’ court. He was a proud religious law-keeper and a teacher of the Law. He was respected by all the people. He stood up and said that the missionaries should be sent outside for a short time.

³⁵ Then Gamaliel said to the court, “Jewish men, be careful what you plan to do with these men. ³⁶ Remember that many years ago a man called Theudas made himself out to be someone great. He had about 400 followers. He was killed. His followers were divided and nothing came of his teaching. ³⁷ After him, Judas of the country of Galilee gathered many followers. It was the time for every person to have his name written in the books of the nation. This Judas was killed also. All his followers were divided and went away. ³⁸ I say to you now, stay away from these men and leave them alone. If this teaching and work is from men, it will come to nothing. ³⁹ If it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ The court agreed with Gamaliel. So they called the missionaries in and beat them. They told them they must not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they were sent away.

⁴¹ So the missionaries went away from the court happy that they could suffer shame because of His Name. ⁴² Every day in the house of God and in the homes, they kept teaching and preaching about Jesus Christ.

No Water—No Food

14 The Word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah when there was no water: ² “Judah is full of sorrow and her gates are weak. Her people sit on the ground in sorrow, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. ³ Their men of honor have sent their servants for water. They have come to the wells and found no water, and returned with their jars empty. They have been put to shame and troubled, and covered their heads. ⁴ The ground is dried up because there has been no rain on the land. The farmers have been put to shame and have covered their heads. ⁵ Even the deer in the field leaves her young one which has just been born, because there is no grass. ⁶ The wild donkeys stand on the open hill-tops. They breathe hard for air like wild dogs. Their eyes become weak because there is nothing to eat.

⁷ “Even when our sins speak against us, O Lord, do something for the good of Your name. For we have fallen away from You many times. We have sinned against You. ⁸ You are the Hope of Israel, the One Who saves it in time of trouble. Why are You like a stranger in the land? Why are You like a traveler who has set up his tent for the night? ⁹ Why are You like a man surprised, like a strong man who cannot save? Yet You are among us, O Lord, and we are called by Your name. Do not leave us!”

¹⁰ The Lord says this about these people, “They have loved to go their own way. They have not held their feet back. So the Lord is not pleased with them. Now He will remember their wrong-doing and punish their sins.” ¹¹ The Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of these people. ¹² When they go without food, I will not listen to their cry. And when they give burnt gifts and grain gifts, I will not receive them. But I will destroy them by the sword, hunger and disease.”

¹³ Then I said, “O Lord God, the ones who speak in Your name are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword and you will not go hungry. But I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord said to me, “Those men are speaking lies in My name. I have not sent them, or told them, or spoken to them. They are telling you a false dream of a false future that means nothing. They are speaking the lies of their own hearts. ¹⁵ So this is what the Lord says about those men who tell what is going to happen in the future using My name. I did not send them, yet they keep saying, ‘There will be no sword or hunger in this land.’ So by the sword and by hunger those false teachers will be destroyed! ¹⁶ And the people they tell these things to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of hunger and the sword. There will be no one to bury them, or their wives, or their sons, or their daughters. For I will pour out their own sin upon them. ¹⁷ You will say to them, ‘Let my eyes flow with tears without stopping night and day. For my people have been crushed with a very hard beating. ¹⁸ If I go out to the country, I see those killed by the sword! Or if I go into the city, I see diseases because of hunger! For both the man who speaks for God and the religious leader have gone around and around in the land they do not know.’”

The People Cry to the Lord

¹⁹ Have You nothing at all to do with Judah any more? Do You hate Zion? Why have You punished us so that we cannot be healed? We waited for peace, but nothing good came. We waited for a time of healing, but there is much trouble. ²⁰ We know that we are sinful, O Lord, and we know the sin of our fathers. For we have sinned against You. ²¹ For the good of Your name do not hate us. Do not put to shame the throne of Your shining-greatness. Remember and do not break Your agreement with us. ²² Are there any among the false gods of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens give rain? Is it not You, O Lord our God? So we hope in You. For You are the One Who has done all these things.

Jesus Is Raised from the Dead ^(A)

28 The Day of Rest was over. The sun was coming up on the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the grave. ² At once the earth shook and an angel of the Lord came down from heaven. He came and pushed back the stone from the door and sat on it. ³ His face was bright like lightning. His clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The soldiers were shaking with fear and became as dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus Who was nailed to the cross. ⁶ He is not here! He has risen from the dead as He said He would. Come and see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ Run fast and tell His followers that He is risen from the dead. He is going before you to the country of Galilee. You will see Him there as I have told you.” ⁸ They went away from the grave in a hurry. They were afraid and yet had much joy. They ran to tell the news to His followers.

⁹ As they went to tell the followers, Jesus met them and said hello to them. They came and held His feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My followers to go to Galilee. They will see Me there.”

¹¹ While they were on their way, some of the soldiers who were to watch the grave came into the city. They told the head religious leaders everything that had happened. ¹² The soldiers gathered together with the other leaders and talked about what to do. The leaders gave much money to the soldiers. ¹³ They said, “Tell the people, ‘His followers came at night and took His body while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴ We will see that you do not get into trouble over this if Pilate hears about it.” ¹⁵ They took the money and did as they were told. This story was told among the Jews and is still told today.

Jesus Sends His Followers to Teach ^(B)

¹⁶ Then the eleven followers went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

¹⁷ When they saw Jesus, they worshiped Him. But some did not believe.

¹⁸ Jesus came and said to them, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”