From: "FamilyNet" 

Bible Reading for November 19

Acts 15
[1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and
said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be
saved.
[2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain
other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about
this question.
[3] And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through
Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they
caused great joy unto all the brethren. [4] And when they were come to
Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and
elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
[5] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep
the law of Moses.
[6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto
them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,
and believe.
[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [9] And put no difference between us
and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
[10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,
even as they.
[12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and
Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the
Gentiles by them.
[13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me:
[14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to
take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of
the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will
build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build
again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
[17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the
Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these
things.
[18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. [19]
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the
Gentiles are turned to God:
[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of
idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
[21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being
read in the synagogues every sabbath day. [22] Then pleased it the apostles
and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company
to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and
Silas, chief men among the brethren: [23] And they wrote letters by them
after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto
the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
[24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be
circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: [25] It
seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men
unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [26] Men that have hazarded
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[27] We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the
same things by mouth.
[28] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no
greater burden than these necessary things; [29] That ye abstain from meats
offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye
well.
[30] So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had
gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: [31] Which
when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. [32] And Judas and
Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many
words, and confirmed them. [33] And after they had tarried there a space,
they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. [34]
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. [35] Paul also and
Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord,
with many others also. [36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas,
Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached
the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
[37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was
Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed
from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the
contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from
the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
[40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren
unto the grace of God.
[41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Acts 16
[1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was
there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek: [2] Which was well reported of by the
brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
[3] Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him
because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that
his father was a Greek.
[4] And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees
for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at
Jerusalem.
[5] And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
[6] Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia,
and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, [7] After
they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit
suffered them not.
[8] And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. [9] And a vision appeared
to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him,
saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. [10] And after he had seen
the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly
gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
[11] Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to
Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; [12] And from thence to
Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony:
and we were in that city abiding certain days. [13] And on the sabbath we
went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and
we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
[14] And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of
Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that
she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. [15] And when she
was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged
me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she
constrained us. [16] And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying:
[17] The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the
servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
[18] And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said
to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of
her. And he came out the same hour.
[19] And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they
caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
[20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do
exceedingly trouble our city,
[21] And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to
observe, being Romans.
[22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates
rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. [23] And when they had
laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the
jailor to keep them safely: [24] Who, having received such a charge, thrust
them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. [25]
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the
prisoners heard them.
[26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of
the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and
every one's bands were loosed.
[27] And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the
prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself,
supposing that the prisoners had been fled. [28] But Paul cried with a loud
voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
[29] Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and
fell down before Paul and Silas,
[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31]
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house.
[32] And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
[33] And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes;
and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. [34] And when he had brought
them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in
God with all his house. [35] And when it was day, the magistrates sent the
serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
[36] And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates
have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. [37] But
Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans,
and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay
verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. [38] And the
serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they
heard that they were Romans. [39] And they came and besought them, and
brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
[40] And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia
and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

Acts 17
[1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: [2] And Paul, as his
manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them
out of the scriptures, [3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs
have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I
preach unto you, is Christ. [4] And some of them believed, and consorted
with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the
chief women not a few. [5] But the Jews which believed not, moved with
envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a
company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of
Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
[6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto
the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside
down are come hither also;
[7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. [8] And they troubled
the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
[9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
[10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto
Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.
[12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few.
[13] But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God
was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the
people.
[14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to
the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. [15] And they that
conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto
Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in
him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. [17] Therefore disputed
he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the
market daily with them that met with him. [18] Then certain philosophers of
the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What
will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of
strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
[19] And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know
what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? [20] For thou bringest
certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these
things mean.
[21] (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time
in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) [22] Then
Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I
perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. [23] For as I passed
by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO
THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto
you.
[24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord
of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither
is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he
giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; [26] And hath made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and
hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation;
[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him,
and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we
live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have
said, For we are also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the
offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold,
or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
[30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all
men every where to repent:
[31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world
in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. [32] And
when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others
said, We will hear thee again of this matter. [33] So Paul departed from
among them. [34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among
the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and
others with them.

Acts 18
[1] After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; [2]
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from
Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all
Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. [3] And because he was of
the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation
they were tentmakers. [4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath,
and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
[5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed
in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. [6] And
when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and
said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from
henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. [7] And he departed thence, and
entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God,
whose house joined hard to the synagogue. [8] And Crispus, the chief ruler
of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the
Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
[9] Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid,
but speak, and hold not thy peace:
[10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I
have much people in this city.
[11] And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God
among them.

-+-

http://www.ifbtopsites.com - Independent Baptist Top Sites

http://www.cyber-missions.com - Bob and Maureen Hoffman, Missionaries to Cyberspace

http://www.ekklesia-online.org - Affordable domain name registration,
hosting, email, loads more.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5