Old/New Testament
1 In the days of Ahasuerus (This is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,
2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan),
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants—even the power of Persia and Media—and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him.
4 So that he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty for many days, even 180 days.
5 And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were found in the palace of Shushan (both great and small) for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,
6 under a hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and of silver, upon a pavement of porphyry and marble and alabaster and blue color.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the power of the king.
8 And the drinking was voluntary. For so the king had ordered all the officers of his house: that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9 The Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas (the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of king Ahasuerus)
11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, so that he might show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look upon.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word which he had given in charge to the eunuchs. Therefore, the king was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the King’s manner towards all who knew the law and the judgment—
14 and closest to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia, and Media—who saw the king’s face and sat the first in the kingdom),
15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not do according to the word of King Ahasuerus, by the commission of the eunuchs?”
16 Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “The Queen Vashti has not only done evil against the king, but against all the princes, and against all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 For the act of the queen shall become known to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shall say, ‘The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
18 “So shall the princesses of Persia and Media say this day to all the king’s princes when they hear of the act of the queen. Thus shall there be much spitefulness and wrath.
19 “If it please the king, let a royal decree proceed from him; and let it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media. And let it not be transgressed that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to someone who is better than she.
20 “And when the decree of the king, which shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be great), all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.”
21 And this saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22 For he sent letters into all the provinces of the king, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people in their own language, so that every man should rule his own house; and so that he would publish it in the language of that same people.
2 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.
2 And the king’s servants who ministered to him, said, “Let them seek beautiful young virgins for the king.
3 “And let the king appoint officers through all the provinces of his kingdom. And let them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai (the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women), to give them their things for purification.
4 “And the maid who shall please the king, let her reign in the place of Vashti.” And this pleased the king; and he did so.
5 In the city of Shushan, there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai (the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a man of Benjamin),
6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah, King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away).
7 And he nourished Hadassah (that is, Esther), his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. And the maid was fair and beautiful to look on. And after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8 And when the king’s commandment and his decree were published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan under the hand of Hegai, Esther was also brought to the king’s house under the hand of Hegai, the keeper of the women.
9 And the maid pleased him; and she found favor in his sight. Therefore, he caused her things for purification to be given to her speedily, as well as her things and seven comely maids to be given to her out of the king’s house. And he gave her and her maids charge of the best in the house of the women.
10 But Esther did not reveal her people and her kindred. For Mordecai had told her that she should not tell it.
11 And Mordecai walked before the court of the women’s house every day, to find out if Esther did well, and what would become of her.
12 And after she had completed twelve months of the purification process (including six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors), every maid came, in turn, to go in to King Ahasuerus.
13 And thus went the maids to the king. Whatever she required was given to her (when she would go from the women’s house to the king’s house).
14 In the evening, she went. And the next day, she returned to the second house of the women, under the hand of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. If she did not please the king, was no longer called by name nor came in to the king.
15 Now, when the turn of Esther (the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter) came to go in to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women said. And Esther found favor in the sight of all those who looked on her.
16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his house royal, in the tenth month (which is the month Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women; and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants (which was the “Feast of Esther”) and gave rest to the provinces, and gifts, according to the power of a king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered a second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, as when she was brought up by him.
21 In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh (who kept the door) were angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai; and he told it to Queen Esther. And Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. And when inquisition was made, it was found to be so. Therefore, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the Book of the Chronicles, before the king.
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession,
2 and embezzled part of the price (his wife also being aware of it) and brought a certain part and laid it down at the Apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart, that you should lie to the Holy Ghost, and embezzle part of the price of this possession?
4 “While it remained, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to man, but to God.”
5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and gave up the ghost. Then great fear came on all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men rose up, and picked him up, and carried him out and buried him.
7 And it happened that about the space of three hours after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this much?” And she said, “Yes, for that much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and shall carry you out.”
10 Then she immediately fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came over all the church, and on all who heard these things.
12 Thus, many signs and wonders were shown among the people by the hands of the Apostles. And they were all of one mind in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the rest, no one dared join them. Nevertheless, the people extolled them.
14 Also, the number of those who believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more;
15 insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, so that at least the shadow of Peter might envelop some of them when he came by.
16 Also, a multitude came into Jerusalem out of the surrounding cities (bringing sick folks and those who were possessed with unclean spirits) who were all healed.
17 Then the High Priest, and all who were with him (which was the sect of the Sadducees), rose up and were full of indignation;
18 and laid hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 But the Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them forth, and said,
20 “Go your way and stand in the Temple. And speak all the words of this life to the people.”
21 So when they heard it, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the High Priest came (and those who were with him), and called the Council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent word to the prison to have them brought.
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