M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
After Joshua, Israel Abandons Adonai
2 Now the angel of Adonai came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and He said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and took you into the land which I swore to your fathers. I also said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 2 Now as for you, you must make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You must break down their altars.’ But you have not listened to My voice. What is this you have done? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out from before you, but they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.’” 4 Now when the angel of Adonai spoke these words to all Bnei-Yisrael, the people lifted up their voice and wept. 5 So they called the name of that place Bochim[a], and they sacrificed there to Adonai.
6 Now when Joshua had sent the people away, Bnei-Yisrael went every man to his inheritance to possess the land. 7 Then the people worshipped Adonai all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Adonai that He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Adonai, died at the age of 110 years, 9 and they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim north of Mount Gaash.
10 But when all that generation were gathered to their fathers, there arose another generation after them that did not experience Adonai or the work that He had done for Israel. 11 Then Bnei-Yisrael did what was evil in Adonai’s eyes, and worshipped the Baalim. 12 They abandoned Adonai, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples around them, and bowed down to them. So they provoked the anger of Adonai. 13 So they forsook Adonai and worshipped Baal and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of Adonai burned against Israel, and He gave them over to the hands of plunderers who plundered them, and He sold them over into the hand of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand up before their enemies. 15 Whenever they went out, the hand of Adonai was against them for evil, as Adonai had spoken and as Adonai had sworn to them. So they were severely distressed.
Rise of Judges
16 Then Adonai raised up judges who delivered them from the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they listened not to their judges, for they prostituted themselves after other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their fathers walked in obeying the commandments of Adonai; they did not do so. 18 Whenever Adonai raised judges up for them, Adonai was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For Adonai was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and crushed them. 19 But when the judge died, they would keep turning back and acted more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods, worshipping them, and bowing down to them. They abandoned none of their practices and stubborn ways.
20 So the anger of Adonai burned against Israel, and He declared, “Since this nation has transgressed My covenant that I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether or not they will keep the way of Adonai to walk in it as their fathers did.” 23 So Adonai left those nations, without driving them out quickly. Thus so He had not given them into the hand of Joshua.
Appointed for Service
6 Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose[a] among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support. 2 So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 So, brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the Word.”
5 The statement pleased the whole group; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 They placed these men before the emissaries; and after praying, they laid hands on them.[b]
7 The word of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly multiplied; even a great number of the kohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.
Stephen’s Testimony and Martyrdom
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen—both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and Asia[c]—stood up and began arguing with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Ruach by whom he was speaking.
11 Then they secretly instigated men into saying, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God!” 12 They also incited the people, the elders, and the Torah scholars; and they rushed at Stephen, seized him, and led him away to the Sanhedrin. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking words against this holy place and the Torah. 14 For we have heard him saying that this Yeshua ha-Natzrati will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 Watching him intently, everyone who was sitting in the Sanhedrin saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Who Grieves for Jerusalem?
15 Then said Adonai to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul could not be toward this people. Cast them out of My presence, and let them go out!” 2 It will come to pass, when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ Then You will tell them, thus says Adonai:
“Those for death—to death!
Those for the sword—to the sword!
Those for famine—to famine!
Those for exile—to exile![a]
3 I have appointed over them four kinds”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth to devour and to destroy.[b]
4 “So I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
5 “Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem?
Or who will grieve for you?
Or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?
6 You have cast Me off”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“You keep going backward!
So I stretch out My hand against you
and will destroy you.
I am weary with relenting.
7 I will scatter them with a winnowing fork
at the gates of the land.
I will bereave them of children and destroy My people,
since they do not repent of their ways.
8 Their widows will increase before Me
more than the sand of the seas,
I will bring a destroyer at noonday
against the mother of a young man.
Suddenly I will bring down on her
anguish and terrors.
9 She who bore seven languishes.
She breathes out her soul.
Her sun sets while it is yet day.
She is shamed and humiliated.
Their survivors I give to the sword
before their enemies.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
10 Oy to me, my mother,
that you gave birth to me—
a man of strife and conflict to all the land!
I did not lend or borrow,
yet everyone curses me.
11 Adonai said:
“Surely I will release you for good.
Surely I will make the enemy appeal to you
in a time of trouble, in a time of affliction.
12 Can anyone smash iron—
iron and bronze from the north?
13 Your wealth and your treasures
I will give as plunder without cost,
for all your sins, in all your borders.
14 I will take you away with your enemies
into a land you do not know,
for a fire is kindled in My nostril,
which will burn against you.”
15 Adonai, you know.
Remember me and think of me.
Avenge me against my persecutors.
Because of Your long-suffering,
do not take me away.
Know that for Your sake I endure scorn.
16 Your words were found, so I ate them.
Your words were a delight to me
and the joy of my heart.
For I am called by Your Name,
Adonai-Elohei-Tzva’ot.
17 I never sat in the company of revelers
nor made merry.
Because of Your hand I sat alone,
for You filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unending
and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
Will You be to me like a mirage
of water that is undependable?
19 Therefore thus says Adonai:
“If you return, I will restore you,
you will stand before Me.
If you extract the precious from the worthless,
you will be as My mouth.
Let them turn to you,
but you must not turn to them.
20 I will make you a fortified bronze wall to this people.
They will fight against you,
but will not prevail against you,
for I am with you to save you
and deliver you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
21 “So I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and I will redeem you out of the grasp of the ruthless.”
The Kingdom Is Coming Now
1 The beginning of the Good News of Yeshua ha-Mashiach, Ben-Elohim. 2 As Isaiah the prophet has written,
“Behold, I send My messenger before You,
who will prepare Your way.[a]
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of Adonai,
and make His paths straight.’”[b]
4 John appeared, immersing in the wilderness, proclaiming an immersion involving repentance for the removal of sins. 5 All the Judean countryside was going out to him, and all the Jerusalemites. As they confessed their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 “After me comes One who is mightier than I am,” he proclaimed. “I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals! 8 I immersed you with water, but He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”[c]
The Spirit Rests on Yeshua
9 In those days, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galilee and was immersed by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ripping open and the Ruach as a dove coming down upon Him. 11 And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!”[d]
12 That instant, the Ruach drives Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by satan. And He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were taking care of Him.
Fishermen Follow Him
14 Now after John was put in jail, Yeshua came into the Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. 15 “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!”
16 Passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Yeshua said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
19 Going a little farther, He saw Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands and followed Him.
Demons Flee at His Command
21 And they went into Capernaum. Right away, on Shabbat, He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were astounded at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority[e] and not as the Torah scholars.
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have we to do with You, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are! You’re the Holy One of God!”
25 Yeshua rebuked him, saying, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, after throwing the man into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
27 They were all so amazed that they asked among themselves, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And immediately news about Him spread throughout the region surrounding Galilee.
The Hurting Become Whole
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with Jacob and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. Right away, they told Yeshua about her. 31 He came and raised her up by taking her hand. The fever left her, and she began to take care of them.
32 When evening came, at sunset, the people brought to Him all the sick and those who were afflicted by demons. 33 The whole town gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
35 Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying. 36 Then Simon and those with him hunted for Yeshua. 37 And when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everybody’s looking for You.”
38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also—this is what I came for.” 39 And He went throughout all the Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40 A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” 42 Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed.
43 Yeshua sent him away at once, sternly warning him. 44 He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the kohen.[f] Then, for your cleansing, offer what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim and spread the word, so much that Yeshua could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay out in wilderness areas. Still, they kept on coming to Him from everywhere.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.