Old/New Testament
3 After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and exalted him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed their knees and paid homage to Haman (for the king had so commanded concerning him). But Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage.
3 Then, the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s commandment?”
4 And even though they spoke daily to him, he would not listen. Therefore, they told Haman, to see how Mordecai’s words would stand (for he had told them that he was a Jew).
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow to him, nor did he pay homage to him, then Haman was full of anger.
6 Now, he thought it wasn’t enough just to lay hands on Mordecai. And because they had told him Mordecai was a Jew, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even all the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month (that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus), they cast Pur (that is, a lot) before Haman—every day of every month—until the twelfth month (that is the month Adar).
8 Then, Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a people, scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from all other people; and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not to the king’s profit to put up with them.
9 “If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who are in charge of this business, to bring it into the king’s treasury.”
10 Then the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ adversary.
11 And the king said to Haman, “Let the silver and the people be yours to do with as it pleases you.”
12 Then, on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were called. And all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s officers and to the captains who were over every province and to the rulers of every people, and to every province according to its writing and to every people according to their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s ring.
13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces: to root out, to kill and to destroy all the Jews— both young and old, children and women—on one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar) and to take the plunder as a possession.
14 The contents of the writing was that there should be given a commandment in all provinces, and published to all people, that they should be ready for that day.
15 And the couriers, compelled by the king’s commandment, went forth. And the commandment was given in the palace at Shushan. And the king and Haman sat, drinking. But the city of Shushan was in confusion.
4 Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city and cried with a great and bitter cry.
2 And he came as far as the king’s gate; but he could not enter, being clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province and place where the king’s charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and mourning. And many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.
4 Then, Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told it to her. Therefore, the queen was very troubled; and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so he could remove his sackcloth. But he refused it.
5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to serve her and gave him a commandment to go and ask Mordecai what this was and why it was.
6 So, Hathach went out to Mordecai, into the street which was before the king’s gate.
7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the silver that Haman had promised to pay into the King’s treasuries, to destroy the Jews.
8 Also, he gave him the copy of the edict that was given at Shushan (to destroy them), so that he might show it to Esther and inform her, and to charge her that she should go and petition the king and make supplication for her people before him.
9 So, when Hathach came, he told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Then, Esther said to Hathach, and commanded him to say to Mordecai,
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know of the king’s law stating that whoever, man or woman, comes to the king (into the inner court) who has not been called there, shall die. The only exception is him to whom the king holds out the golden rod. He may live. Now I have not been called to come to the king in the last thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai of Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai sent word to Esther, saying, “Don’t think you shall escape any more than the rest of the Jews just because you live in the king’s house.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place. And you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows whether you have come to power for such a time as this?”
15 Then, Esther commanded an answer to Mordecai,
16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me. And do not eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my maids will also fast. Then I will go in to the King, which is not according to the law. And if I die, I die.”
17 So, Mordecai went his way and did everything that Esther had commanded him.
5 And on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the court of the king’s palace within, in front of the king’s rooms. And the king sat upon his royal throne, in the king’s palace, opposite the gate of the house.
2 And when the king saw Esther the Queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then the king said to her, “What’s wrong, Queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you, even up to half of the kingdom.”
4 Then Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, so that it may be given to you? And what is your request? It shall be performed even up to half of the kingdom.”
7 Then Esther answered, “My petition, and my request is:
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them; and I will do as the king says tomorrow.”
9 Then, that same day, Haman went out joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or move for him, then Haman was full of indignation at Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself. And when he came home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the promotions the king had given him, and how that he had set him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the Queen let no man except me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And tomorrow she has called us to her again.
13 But all this is unsatisfying as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, “Let them make a hanging tree 75 feet high, and tomorrow ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you shall go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And that pleased Haman. So, he had the hanging tree made.
22 But when the officers came, and did not find them in the prison, they returned and told it,
23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison locked as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside, in front of the doors. But when we had opened it, we found no one inside.”
24 Then, when the High Priest and the Captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard these things, they were in doubt of what would become of this.
25 Then one came and reported to them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.”
26 Then the captain went, with the officers, and brought them, without violence (for they feared that the people might stone them).
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council. And the High Priest asked them,
28 saying, “Did we not directly command you not to teach in this Name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! And you intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us!”
29 Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and said, “We need to obey God rather than man.
30 “The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, Whom you killed and hanged on a tree.
31 “God has exalted Him, with His right hand, to be a Prince and a Savior; to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 “And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say, and the Holy Ghost Whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 Now when they heard it, they were cut to the quick, and planned to kill them.
34 Then a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel (a doctor of the Law, honored by all the people) stood up in the Council, and commanded to put the Apostles outside for a little while.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel! Be careful what you intend to do regarding these men.
36 For before these times, Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody. Who was followed by a number of men (about four hundred) and who was killed. And all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished and all who obeyed him were scattered.
38 “And now I say to you keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel (or this work) is of man, it will come to nothing.
39 “But if it be of God, you cannot destroy it. For you would be found fighting against God as well.”
40 And they agreed with him and called the Apostles. And after they had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus. And they let them go.
41 So they departed from the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for His Name.
42 And they did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ daily in the Temple, and from house to house.
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