Sealed Women: I Am

Testimony and Tolerance

Gideon; Man of Doubt, Man of Fear, Man of Faith?

Strengthen Your Faith #2 God Loves You

Set the Sail (Preparing for a Move of God)

Young Adults + Our Stories 2

Flawed Views of Work

Humility

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Bible Reading Plan

Daily Wisdom for Men

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPSA">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="PSA.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="cl">Psalm 8#In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.</div><div class="d">For the director of music. According to gittith.#Title: Probably a musical term A psalm of David.</div><div class="q1"> 1 Lord, our Lord,</div><div class="q2">how majestic is your name in all the earth!</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1">You have set your glory</div><div class="q2">in the heavens.</div><div class="q1"> 2Through the praise of children and infants</div><div class="q2">you have established a stronghold against your enemies,</div><div class="q2">to silence the foe and the avenger.</div><div class="q1"> 3When I consider your heavens,</div><div class="q2">the work of your fingers,</div><div class="q1">the moon and the stars,</div><div class="q2">which you have set in place,</div><div class="q1"> 4what is mankind that you are mindful of them,</div><div class="q2">human beings that you care for them?#8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 5You have made them#8:5 Or him a little lower than the angels#8:5 Or than God</div><div class="q2">and crowned them#8:5 Or him with glory and honor.</div><div class="q1"> 6You made them rulers over the works of your hands;</div><div class="q2">you put everything under their#8:6 Or made him ruler&#8230;; / &#8230;his feet:</div><div class="q1"> 7all flocks and herds,</div><div class="q2">and the animals of the wild,</div><div class="q1"> 8the birds in the sky,</div><div class="q2">and the fish in the sea,</div><div class="q2">all that swim the paths of the seas.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 9 Lord, our Lord,</div><div class="q2">how majestic is your name in all the earth!</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch16" data-usfm="GEN.16">
 <div class="label">16</div><div class="s1">Hagar and Ishmael</div><div class="p"> 1Now Sarai, Abram&#8217;s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2so she said to Abram, &#8220;The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.&#8221;</div><div class="p">Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.</div><div class="p">When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, &#8220;You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6&#8220;Your slave is in your hands,&#8221; Abram said. &#8220;Do with her whatever you think best.&#8221; Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.</div><div class="p"> 7The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8And he said, &#8220;Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;I&#8217;m running away from my mistress Sarai,&#8221; she answered.</div><div class="p"> 9Then the angel of the Lord told her, &#8220;Go back to your mistress and submit to her.&#8221; 10The angel added, &#8220;I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11The angel of the Lord also said to her:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;You are now pregnant</div><div class="q2">and you will give birth to a son.</div><div class="q1">You shall name him Ishmael,#16:11 Ishmael means God hears.</div><div class="q2">for the Lord has heard of your misery.</div><div class="q1"> 12He will be a wild donkey of a man;</div><div class="q2">his hand will be against everyone</div><div class="q2">and everyone&#8217;s hand against him,</div><div class="q1">and he will live in hostility</div><div class="q2">toward#16:12 Or live to the east / of all his brothers.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: &#8220;You are the God who sees me,&#8221; for she said, &#8220;I have now seen#16:13 Or seen the back of the One who sees me.&#8221; 14That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi#16:14 Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.</div><div class="p"> 15So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkGEN">
 <div class="chapter ch17" data-usfm="GEN.17">
 <div class="label">17</div><div class="s1">The Covenant of Circumcision</div><div class="p"> 1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, &#8220;I am God Almighty#17:1 Hebrew El-Shaddai; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4&#8220;As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5No longer will you be called Abram#17:5 Abram means exalted father.; your name will be Abraham,#17:5 Abraham probably means father of many. for I have made you a father of many nations. 6I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Then God said to Abraham, &#8220;As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner&#8212;those who are not your offspring. 13Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15God also said to Abraham, &#8220;As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, &#8220;Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?&#8221; 18And Abraham said to God, &#8220;If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19Then God said, &#8220;Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.#17:19 Isaac means he laughs. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.&#8221; 22When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.</div><div class="p"> 23On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. 27And every male in Abraham&#8217;s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="PRO.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Wisdom&#8217;s Call</div><div class="q1"> 1Does not wisdom call out?</div><div class="q2">Does not understanding raise her voice?</div><div class="q1"> 2At the highest point along the way,</div><div class="q2">where the paths meet, she takes her stand;</div><div class="q1"> 3beside the gate leading into the city,</div><div class="q2">at the entrance, she cries aloud:</div><div class="q1"> 4&#8220;To you, O people, I call out;</div><div class="q2">I raise my voice to all mankind.</div><div class="q1"> 5You who are simple, gain prudence;</div><div class="q2">you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.#8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds</div><div class="q1"> 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;</div><div class="q2">I open my lips to speak what is right.</div><div class="q1"> 7My mouth speaks what is true,</div><div class="q2">for my lips detest wickedness.</div><div class="q1"> 8All the words of my mouth are just;</div><div class="q2">none of them is crooked or perverse.</div><div class="q1"> 9To the discerning all of them are right;</div><div class="q2">they are upright to those who have found knowledge.</div><div class="q1"> 10Choose my instruction instead of silver,</div><div class="q2">knowledge rather than choice gold,</div><div class="q1"> 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies,</div><div class="q2">and nothing you desire can compare with her.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 12&#8220;I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;</div><div class="q2">I possess knowledge and discretion.</div><div class="q1"> 13To fear the Lord is to hate evil;</div><div class="q2">I hate pride and arrogance,</div><div class="q2">evil behavior and perverse speech.</div><div class="q1"> 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;</div><div class="q2">I have insight, I have power.</div><div class="q1"> 15By me kings reign</div><div class="q2">and rulers issue decrees that are just;</div><div class="q1"> 16by me princes govern,</div><div class="q2">and nobles&#8212;all who rule on earth.#8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers</div><div class="q1"> 17I love those who love me,</div><div class="q2">and those who seek me find me.</div><div class="q1"> 18With me are riches and honor,</div><div class="q2">enduring wealth and prosperity.</div><div class="q1"> 19My fruit is better than fine gold;</div><div class="q2">what I yield surpasses choice silver.</div><div class="q1"> 20I walk in the way of righteousness,</div><div class="q2">along the paths of justice,</div><div class="q1"> 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me</div><div class="q2">and making their treasuries full.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 22&#8220;The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,#8:22 Or way; or dominion#8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work</div><div class="q2">before his deeds of old;</div><div class="q1"> 23I was formed long ages ago,</div><div class="q2">at the very beginning, when the world came to be.</div><div class="q1"> 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,</div><div class="q2">when there were no springs overflowing with water;</div><div class="q1"> 25before the mountains were settled in place,</div><div class="q2">before the hills, I was given birth,</div><div class="q1"> 26before he made the world or its fields</div><div class="q2">or any of the dust of the earth.</div><div class="q1"> 27I was there when he set the heavens in place,</div><div class="q2">when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,</div><div class="q1"> 28when he established the clouds above</div><div class="q2">and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,</div><div class="q1"> 29when he gave the sea its boundary</div><div class="q2">so the waters would not overstep his command,</div><div class="q1">and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.</div><div class="q2"> 30Then I was constantly#8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child at his side.</div><div class="q1">I was filled with delight day after day,</div><div class="q2">rejoicing always in his presence,</div><div class="q1"> 31rejoicing in his whole world</div><div class="q2">and delighting in mankind.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 32&#8220;Now then, my children, listen to me;</div><div class="q2">blessed are those who keep my ways.</div><div class="q1"> 33Listen to my instruction and be wise;</div><div class="q2">do not disregard it.</div><div class="q1"> 34Blessed are those who listen to me,</div><div class="q2">watching daily at my doors,</div><div class="q2">waiting at my doorway.</div><div class="q1"> 35For those who find me find life</div><div class="q2">and receive favor from the Lord.</div><div class="q1"> 36But those who fail to find me harm themselves;</div><div class="q2">all who hate me love death.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="MAT.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy</div><div class="p"> 1When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy#8:2 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. came and knelt before him and said, &#8220;Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. &#8220;I am willing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be clean!&#8221; Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, &#8220;See that you don&#8217;t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Faith of the Centurion</div><div class="p"> 5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6&#8220;Lord,&#8221; he said, &#8220;my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7Jesus said to him, &#8220;Shall I come and heal him?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8The centurion replied, &#8220;Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, &#8216;Go,&#8217; and he goes; and that one, &#8216;Come,&#8217; and he comes. I say to my servant, &#8216;Do this,&#8217; and he does it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, &#8220;Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, &#8220;Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.&#8221; And his servant was healed at that moment.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals Many</div><div class="p"> 14When Jesus came into Peter&#8217;s house, he saw Peter&#8217;s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.</div><div class="p"> 16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;He took up our infirmities</div><div class="q2">and bore our diseases.&#8221;#8:17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint)</div><div class="s1">The Cost of Following Jesus</div><div class="p"> 18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, &#8220;Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20Jesus replied, &#8220;Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21Another disciple said to him, &#8220;Lord, first let me go and bury my father.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22But Jesus told him, &#8220;Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calms the Storm</div><div class="p"> 23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, &#8220;Lord, save us! We&#8217;re going to drown!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26He replied, &#8220;You of little faith, why are you so afraid?&#8221; Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.</div><div class="p"> 27The men were amazed and asked, &#8220;What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men</div><div class="p"> 28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,#8:28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29&#8220;What do you want with us, Son of God?&#8221; they shouted. &#8220;Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, &#8220;If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32He said to them, &#8220;Go!&#8221; So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkROM">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="ROM.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Life Through the Spirit</div><div class="p"> 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you#8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,#8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13. God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.#8:3 Or flesh, for sin And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.</div><div class="p"> 5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God&#8217;s law, nor can it do so. 8Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.</div><div class="p"> 9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life#8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of#8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.</div><div class="p"> 12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation&#8212;but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.</div><div class="p"> 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.#8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23. And by him we cry, &#8220;Abba,#8:15 Aramaic for father Father.&#8221; 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God&#8217;s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs&#8212;heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.</div><div class="s1">Present Suffering and Future Glory</div><div class="p"> 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that#8:20,21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.</div><div class="p"> 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.</div><div class="p"> 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God&#8217;s people in accordance with the will of God.</div><div class="p"> 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who#8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good&#8212;with those who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.</div><div class="s1">More Than Conquerors</div><div class="p"> 31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all&#8212;how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died&#8212;more than that, who was raised to life&#8212;is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;For your sake we face death all day long;</div><div class="q2">we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.&#8221;#8:36 Psalm 44:22</div><div class="m"> 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,#8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkACT">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="ACT.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="p"> 1And Saul approved of their killing him.</div><div class="s1">The Church Persecuted and Scattered</div><div class="p">On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.</div><div class="s1">Philip in Samaria</div><div class="p"> 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.</div><div class="s1">Simon the Sorcerer</div><div class="p"> 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, &#8220;This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.&#8221; 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.</div><div class="p"> 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.</div><div class="p"> 18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles&#8217; hands, he offered them money 19and said, &#8220;Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20Peter answered: &#8220;May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24Then Simon answered, &#8220;Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.</div><div class="s1">Philip and the Ethiopian</div><div class="p"> 26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, &#8220;Go south to the road&#8212;the desert road&#8212;that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.&#8221; 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian#8:27 That is, from the southern Nile region eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means &#8220;queen of the Ethiopians&#8221;). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, &#8220;Go to that chariot and stay near it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. &#8220;Do you understand what you are reading?&#8221; Philip asked.</div><div class="p"> 31&#8220;How can I,&#8221; he said, &#8220;unless someone explains it to me?&#8221; So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.</div><div class="p"> 32This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,</div><div class="q2">and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,</div><div class="q2">so he did not open his mouth.</div><div class="q1"> 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.</div><div class="q2">Who can speak of his descendants?</div><div class="q2">For his life was taken from the earth.&#8221;#8:33 Isaiah 53:7,8 (see Septuagint)</div><div class="p"> 34The eunuch asked Philip, &#8220;Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?&#8221; 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, &#8220;Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?&#8221; [37]#8:37 Some manuscripts include here Philip said, &#8220;If you believe with all your heart, you may.&#8221; The eunuch answered, &#8220;I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.&#8221; 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.</div>
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DailySample

Devotional Content

We were made to connect with God,daily.

A daily connection with God centers around...

1. Pray

Set a time of uninterrupted prayer with God, that includes not only speaking to God, but listening for His voice & letting Him speak to you.

Prayer Help:

2. Read the Bible

Read today's selected passages of scripture & pay attention to what stands out to you. Allow God to highlight scriptures & themes to you, from the day's reading. God will speak to you through His written Word, The Bible.

3. Listen + Obey

As God speaks to you, prepare your heart to respond quickly & obediently to His voice. As James says, "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)

Response Help:

Listen for God's voice. Obey what He says. Establish the Kingdom + culture of Heaven on the Earth, today!

Scripture

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