New

During the past 12 months, a good friend of mine (Bruce Arnold) introduced me to an alternative to Microsoft Windows operating systems, Linux UBUNTU.  This open source system is free, runs faster and more reliably than Windows and has thousands of free programs.  Question: Why would I ever want to stay with the Microsoft products?  Aside from a very few programs that I haven't outgrown, I have no good reason to stay with the overrated, overpriced, clunky "standard".  Which brings me to the picture.  Does anyone out there know where I can buy this...???  Admittedly, its a shot in the dark, but right now I would at least try something new; who knows, maybe it will be GREAT!!!  Whether or not it will be better is any one's guess, but I am in the mood for something NEW, SOMETHING BETTER.  Its hard NOT to think of the book of Hebrews when I think of something BETTER....

Hebrews, Chapter 10

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.  2 Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?  3 But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.  4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.  5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,

“Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire,
but you prepared a body for me;


  6 You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
  7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)
to do your will, O God.’”


  8 Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), 9 then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,  10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,  12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;  13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.  14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

  16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them:
‘After those days,’ says the Lord,


‘I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their mind;’”


then he says,

  17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”


  18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,  20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God,  22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,  23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

  24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,  25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.  26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.  28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.  29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.”Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The nation of Israel had a long history of rebelling against God.  They rebelled time and time again, only to realize their error after prolonged suffering.  But the problem was that they could not completely keep God's law and violation demanded punishment.  Enter Jesus and a new way, a better way; faith.  Instead of law breaking, faith-living became the standard.  Jesus made things very personal by HIS sacrifice.  He made one sacrifice (himself) for sins and had done with it; which, of course is much better than repeated offerings. This makes things simpler which is better.  Which is why I migrated to Ubuntu.  Now, if can only find this cola....

June 6 1 Samuel 5, 6

June 6

1 Samuel 5, 6

1Sa 5:1 Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

1Sa 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

1Sa 5:3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

1Sa 5:4 When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands lay cut off on the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

1Sa 5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

1Sa 5:6 But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

1Sa 5:7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore on us, and on Dagon our god.

1Sa 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

1Sa 5:9 It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

1Sa 5:10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.

1Sa 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

1Sa 5:12 The men who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1Sa 6:1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

1Sa 6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."

1Sa 6:3 They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

1Sa 6:4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

1Sa 6:5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

1Sa 6:6 Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed?

1Sa 6:7 Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

1Sa 6:8 and take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it on the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by its side; and send it away, that it may go.

1Sa 6:9 Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us."

1Sa 6:10 The men did so, and took two milk cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;

1Sa 6:11 and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.

1Sa 6:12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:13 They of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

1Sa 6:14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:15 The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

1Sa 6:17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

1Sa 6:18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:19 He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.

1Sa 6:20 The men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

1Sa 6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down, and bring it up to yourselves.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Twenty by Mark Copeland

                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                             Chapter Twenty

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To review Paul's travels in Macedonia and Greece, during the 3rd
   journey

2) To note Paul's preaching until midnight and then talking until
   daybreak, after Eutychus falls out of the third floor window

3) To review Paul's travels from Troas to Miletus

4) To examine Paul's meeting with the Ephesian elders while in Miletus

SUMMARY

After the uproar in Ephesus had ceased, Paul gathered the disciples and
exhorted them; he then departed for Macedonia.  [During this period, 2
Corinthians may have been written.]  Paul provided much exhortation
throughout the region.  He then arrived in Greece and remained some
three months.  [Romans may have been written at this time.] As Paul
planned to sail to Syria, the Jews plotted against him.  He decided to
return through Macedonia.  The seven brethren traveling with Paul
travelled on to Troas, while Paul went to Philippi.  Luke joined Paul,
and they met the seven brethren in Troas.  (1-6)

The traveling group remained in Troas for seven days.  Paul preached on
Sunday until midnight, for they had gathered to "break bread."  Paul
planned to depart on the next day.  A young man, Eutychus, was sitting
in the window.  He was overcome with sleep, and fell from the third
floor window.  He was taken up dead.  Paul went down and "fell on him."
Eutychus was made alive.  Paul broke bread with them, and continued
talking with them until daybreak.  They were greatly comforted that
Eutychus was alive. (7-12)

Paul traveled from Troas to Assos by foot, while his companions sailed
there.  Paul joined them aboard ship in Assos.  Over some four days,
they sailed to/near:  Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus.  Paul
decided to sail past Ephesus, as he desired to be in Jerusalem on the
day of Pentecost. (13-16)

While at Miletus, Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus.
Paul reviewed his labors (history) with them:  he had served the Lord
with humility, tears and trials; he taught publicly and house-to-house;
he taught Jews and Greeks; and, he taught repentance toward God and
faith toward Christ.  Paul spoke of his future.  He was to go "bound in
the Spirit" to Jerusalem.  "Chains and tribulations" awaited him there.
In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue
proclaiming the Gospel.  He wanted to finish his race "with joy."  He
told the elders that they would not see his face anymore.  Paul
declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men," as he had not
failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of God."  Paul exhorted and
warned them as elders; they were to follow his example.  Paul admonished
them to "take heed" unto themselves and to all the flock, over which
they were overseers.  They were to feed the church.  Paul warned them
that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the flock."  Some, even among
them, would arise to draw away the flock - "wherefore, watch ye."  Paul
reminded them that he had warned them day and night for three years.
Paul then commended them to God and to His Word, which is "able to build
you up."  Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
those that were with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide
for the weak.  Paul then prayed with them and bade them farewell.  They
were weeping and sorrowful that they would not see him again.  They then
escorted him back to the ship for his departure.  (17-38)

OUTLINE

I. TRAVELS IN MACEDONIA AND GREECE (1-6)

   A. PAUL BADE FAREWELL TO THE EPHESIAN BRETHREN (1)
      1. Paul called the disciples to himself and said, "Goodbye"
      2. Paul departed to Macedonia

   B. PAUL ENCOURAGED THEM IN MACEDONIA AND GREECE, THEN TO TROAS (2-6)
      1. Paul traveled throughout Macedonia and encouraged them
      2. He then spent three months in Greece
      3. Paul planned to sail to Syria; the Jews plotted against him
         a. He decided to return through Macedonia
         b. Seven brethren accompanied Paul (messengers, see 1 Cor.
            16:3)
         c. The seven traveled on to Troas, while Paul went to Philippi
         d. Through the use of "us" and "we," it is noted that Luke
            joined Paul in Philippi
         e. Paul and Luke joined the others at Troas, five days later

II. PAUL PREACHED IN TROAS (7-12)

   A. PAUL PREACHED ON SUNDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT (7-8)
      1. The travelers remained in Troas for seven days
      2. When the disciples assembled "to break bread," Paul preached
      3. He preached until midnight
      4. Paul planned to depart on the next day

   B. EUTYCHUS FELL OUT OF THE WINDOW (9-12)
      1. The young man, Eutychus, was sitting in the window
      2. He was overcome by sleep and fell from the third floor window
      3. Eutychus was taken up dead
      4. Paul went down and "fell on him"
      5. Eutychus was made alive
      6. Paul broke bread and continued talking with them until
         daybreak; they were comforted - Eutychus was alive

III. TRAVELING FROM TROAS TO MILETUS (13-16)

   A. PAUL MET THE OTHERS IN ASSOS AND BOARDED THE SHIP (13-14)
      1. Paul traveled from Troas to Assos by foot; his companions
         sailed by ship
      2. Paul joined them aboard ship at Assos
      3. Over some four days, they traveled to/near:
         a. Mitylene
         b. Chios
         c. Samos
         d. Miletus
      4. Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, as he desired to be in
         Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost

IV. MEETING WITH THE EPHESIAN ELDERS (17-38)

   A. PAUL REVIEWED HIS HISTORY WITH THE EPHESIAN ELDERS (17-21)
      1. While at Miletus, Paul called for the elders from Ephesus
      2. Paul reviewed his labors while he was in Ephesus
         a. He served the Lord with humility, tears and trials
         b. He taught publicly and house-to-house
         c. He taught Jews and Greeks
         d. He taught repentance toward God and faith toward Christ

   B. PAUL SPOKE OF HIS FUTURE (22-27)
      1. Paul was going to Jerusalem "bound in the Spirit"
      2. "Chains and tribulations" awaited him
      3. In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue
         to proclaim the Gospel, and to finish his race "with joy"
      4. He noted that they would not see his face anymore
      5. Paul declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men,"
         as he had not failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of
         God"

   C. PAUL EXHORTED AND WARNED THEM AS ELDERS OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH;
      THEY WERE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE (28-35)
      1. Paul admonished the elders to "take heed" unto themselves and
         to all the flock, of which they were overseers
      2. They were to "shepherd the flock"
      3. Paul warned them that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the
         flock"
      4. Some, even among them, would arise to draw away the flock
      5. "Wherefore, watch ye"
      6. Paul reminded them that he had warned them day and night for
         three years
      7. Paul commended them to God and to His Word, which was "able to
         build you up"
      8. Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
         those with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide
         for the weak

   D. PAUL PRAYED WITH THE ELDERS AND BADE THEM FAREWELL (36-38)
      1. Paul kneeled and prayed with them
      2. They all wept, sorrowed that they would not see Paul again
      3. They escorted Paul back to the ship

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul's travels in Macedonia and Greece (1-6)
   - Paul preached in Troas (7-12)
   - Travelling from Troas to Miletus(13-16)
   - Meeting with the Ephesian Elders (17-38)

2) When the uproar had ceased in Ephesus, who did Paul call for? (1)
   - Called for the disciples and exhorted them (1)

3) Paul departed Ephesus and went where?  And, where next? (1-2)
   - Macedonia (1)
   - Greece (2)

4) As Paul planned to sail to Syria, what did the Jews do? How did he
   change his plans? (3)
   - They plotted against him (3)
   - He determined to return through Macedonia (3)

5) How many companions were traveling with Paul?  Where did they go
   ahead before Paul? (4-5)
   - Seven brethren (4)
   - They went ahead to Troas and waited (5)

6) What can be noted by the use of the pronouns, "we" and "us" in this
   passage? (5-6)
   - The writer, Luke, had joined the travelers (13)

7) Upon which day of the week and for what purpose had they gathered
   together? (7)
   - They gathered together on the first day of the week - Sunday (7)
   - They had gathered together to "break bread" (Lord's Supper) (7)

8) How long did Paul prolong his message? (7)
   - Until midnight (7)

9) Where was Eutychus and what happened to him? (9-12)
   - Sitting on the window sill (9)
   - Sank into a deep sleep (9)
   - Fell from the third floor window (9)
   - He was picked up dead (9)
   - Paul went down and fell upon him, embracing him (10)
   - He was alive again (12)

10) Where did the travelers sail to? How did Paul travel there? (13)
   - Assos (13)
   - Paul traveled by land (13)

11) List the locations they sailed to/near from Assos to Miletus?
    (14-15)
   - Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus (14-15)

12) What was Paul's reason for sailing past Ephesus? (16)
   - He was hurrying to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost (16)

13) While in Miletus, who did Paul call to meet with him? (17)
   - The elders of the church in Ephesus (17)

14) Briefly list Paul's history with the Ephesians that he reviewed with
    them. (18-21)
   - He served the Lord with humility, tears and trials (19)
   - He taught publicly and house-to-house (20)
   - He taught Jews and Greeks (21)
   - He taught repentance toward God and faith toward Christ (21)

15) What did Paul say was in his future? (22-27)
   - He was going to Jerusalem "bound in the Spirit" (22)
   - "Chains and tribulations" awaited him (23)
   - In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue to
     proclaim the Gospel and to finish his race "with joy" (24)
   - He noted that they would not see his face anymore (25)
   - Paul declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men," as he
     had not failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of God"
     (26-27)

16) How did Paul exhort and warn the elders? Whose example were they to
    follow? (28-35)
   - Paul admonished the elders to "take heed" unto themselves and to
     all the flock, of which they were overseers (28)
   - They were to "shepherd the flock" (28)
   - Paul warned them that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the
     flock" (29)
   - Some, even among them, would arise to draw away the flock (30)
   - "Wherefore, watch ye" - be on the alert (31)
   - Paul reminded them that he had warned them day and night for three
     years (31)
   - Paul commended them to God and to His Word, which was "able to
     build you up" (32)
   - Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
     those with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide for
     the weak (33-35)

17) After Paul exhorted and warned the elders, what did he do? (36)
   - He knelt down and prayed with them (36)

18) What were they especially grieved over? (37-38)
   - Over the word that he had spoken, that they would see his face no
     longer (38)
 

Truth in a bottle?????

Behold, the power of photo-shop!!!  Clever, but not clever enough!!!  I might have believed it if it had not been for the second, fourth and fifth bottles.  There is no way something that different could be of the same scene.  Except of course, if they were of the same scene over a period of time and the pictures were merged.  Whatever, they were still shopped.  These bottles remind me a little of faith in that they may all be of the same scene, just progressively.  That's how our life works, we progress through time and so does our understanding of THE FAITH.  Which in turn reminds me of the book of Jude...

The Book of Jude

  1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:  2 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

  3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.  4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

THE TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE!  Our perception of it may improve over time, but what is true is true and that is that, period.  There are those who try to manipulate it or change it or pervert it, but as long as we keep going back to the Bible for our standards... no problem.  What standards?  The words Jesus said, the books Acts, Romans, Galatians.  Believe something religious?  Have book, chapter a verse for it?  If not, why not?  Be careful out there, there are as many lies as there are liars, so think.... Book, Chapter and Verse, again and again and again.  When you understand it all together, you won't need photo-shop for a second.  However, a good memory will help!!!

June 5 1 Samuel 3, 4

June 5

1 Samuel 3, 4

1Sa 3:1 The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.

1Sa 3:2 It happened at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

1Sa 3:3 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down to sleep, in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was;

1Sa 3:4 that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.

1Sa 3:5 He ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He said, I didn't call; lie down again. He went and lay down.

1Sa 3:6 Yahweh called yet again, Samuel. Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He answered, I didn't call, my son; lie down again.

1Sa 3:7 Now Samuel didn't yet know Yahweh, neither was the word of Yahweh yet revealed to him.

1Sa 3:8 Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.

1Sa 3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

1Sa 3:10 Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for your servant hears.

1Sa 3:11 Yahweh said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.

1Sa 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

1Sa 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them.

1Sa 3:14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering forever.

1Sa 3:15 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

1Sa 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. He said, Here am I.

1Sa 3:17 He said, "What is the thing that Yahweh has spoken to you? Please don't hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you."

1Sa 3:18 Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. He said, It is Yahweh: let him do what seems him good.

1Sa 3:19 Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

1Sa 3:20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.

1Sa 3:21 Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.

1Sa 4:1 The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

1Sa 4:2 The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.

1Sa 4:3 When the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has Yahweh struck us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.

1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

1Sa 4:5 When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

1Sa 4:6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? They understood that the ark of Yahweh was come into the camp.

1Sa 4:7 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. They said, Woe to us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore.

1Sa 4:8 Woe to us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.

1Sa 4:9 Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!

1Sa 4:10 The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

1Sa 4:11 The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

1Sa 4:12 There ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head.

1Sa 4:13 When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

1Sa 4:14 When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What means the noise of this tumult? The man hurried, and came and told Eli.

1Sa 4:15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.

1Sa 4:16 The man said to Eli, I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. He said, How went the matter, my son?

1Sa 4:17 He who brought the news answered, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

1Sa 4:18 It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

1Sa 4:19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came on her.

1Sa 4:20 About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, Don't be afraid; for you have brought forth a son. But she didn't answer, neither did she regard it.

1Sa 4:21 She named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

1Sa 4:22 She said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.

Jun. 5, 6 John 11

Jun. 5, 6

John 11

Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.

Joh 11:2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.

Joh 11:3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, "Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick."

Joh 11:4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God's Son may be glorified by it."

Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

Joh 11:6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.

Joh 11:7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let's go into Judea again."

Joh 11:8 The disciples told him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"

Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

Joh 11:10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn't in him."

Joh 11:11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep."

Joh 11:12 The disciples therefore said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."

Joh 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

Joh 11:14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead.

Joh 11:15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go to him."

Joh 11:16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go also, that we may die with him."

Joh 11:17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.

Joh 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.

Joh 11:19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.

Joh 11:20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.

Joh 11:21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died.

Joh 11:22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you."

Joh 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Joh 11:24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Joh 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.

Joh 11:26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Joh 11:27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God's Son, he who comes into the world."

Joh 11:28 When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, "The Teacher is here, and is calling you."

Joh 11:29 When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him.

Joh 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.

Joh 11:31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."

Joh 11:32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died."

Joh 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

Joh 11:34 and said, "Where have you laid him?" They told him, "Lord, come and see."

Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.

Joh 11:36 The Jews therefore said, "See how much affection he had for him!"

Joh 11:37 Some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?"

Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

Joh 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."

Joh 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?"

Joh 11:41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me.

Joh 11:42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me."

Joh 11:43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

Joh 11:44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."

Joh 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.

Joh 11:46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Joh 11:47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? For this man does many signs.

Joh 11:48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

Joh 11:49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,

Joh 11:50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

Joh 11:51 Now he didn't say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

Joh 11:52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Joh 11:53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.

Joh 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.

Joh 11:55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

Joh 11:56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple, "What do you think-that he isn't coming to the feast at all?"

Joh 11:57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Nineteen by Mark Copeland

                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                            Chapter Nineteen

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) Note that those only baptized in John's baptism, were taught to
   believe in Jesus and were baptized in His name

2) Examine how Paul taught in the area of Ephesus for some two years

3) Review what happened when false teachers (exorcists) attempted to
   cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus

4) Examine the uprising caused by Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths

SUMMARY

When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he found some disciples who had only been
baptized in John's baptism.  He instructed them that they should believe
on Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.  Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.  They spoke in tongues and prophesied. (1-7)

Paul spoke boldly about the kingdom of God in the synagogue in Ephesus
for three months.  Some were hardened and spoke evil of "the Way."  Paul
then went to the school of Tyrannus, reasoning daily with the disciples.
Paul continued this for two years.  [Galatians may have been written at
this time.]  All of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.  (8-10)

God worked miracles through Paul.  Even handkerchiefs and aprons brought
from Paul drove out diseases and evil spirits.  Some itinerant Jewish
exorcists called on the name of the Lord Jesus to drive out evil
spirits.  Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, did this as well.
An evil spirit in a man recognized the name of Jesus and Paul, but did
not recognize them.  The man with the evil spirit leaped on them,
overpowered them and prevailed against them.  They fled naked and
wounded.  Both Jews and Greeks heard of this in Ephesus, and the name of
the Lord was magnified.  Many who practiced magic brought their books
together and burned them.  The books were worth about fifty thousand
pieces of silver.  The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
(11-20)

Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome.  He
sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he remained in Asia.  [1
Corinthians may have been written at this time.]  A great commotion
occurred about the Way.  Demetrius, a silversmith, called together those
of similar occupation.  Recognizing they prospered greatly from this
trade of making idols, he warned that Paul was preaching that the idols
were "not gods which are made with hands."  He proclaimed that
their trade was in danger, and even the temple of the goddess Diana was
in danger.  He claimed this preaching was happening throughout Ephesus,
and across most of Asia.  The people were stirred up, became angry, and
cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"  They seized Gaius and
Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions.  Paul wanted to go into the
crowd, but the disciples would not allow it.  The crowd was in great
confusion.  The Jews put Alexander forward to speak, but when the crowd
realized he was a Jew, they cried out for about two hours, "Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!"  The city clerk calmed the crowd.  He told
Demetrius and his fellow craftsman to take their cases to the open
courts, and that any other inquiry should be made in a lawful assembly.
This assembly was a disorderly gathering, and they were in danger of
being called in question.  He then dismissed the assembly.  (21-41)

OUTLINE

I. PAUL IN EPHESUS (1-41)

   A. PAUL FOUND SOME DISCIPLES IN EPHESUS (1-7)
      1. Paul discovered they had only been baptized in John's baptism
      2. They needed to "believe" on Christ Jesus [implies obedience]
      3. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
      4. Paul laid his hands on them to impart gifts of the Holy Spirit
         on them - spoke in tongues and prophesied

   B. PAUL SPOKE IN THE SYNAGOGUE (8-10)
      1. Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue for 3 months about the
         kingdom of God
      2. Some were hardened and did not believe - spoke evil of "the
         Way"
      3. Paul departed from them, withdrew the disciples and taught in
         the school of Tyrannus
      4. Paul continues there 2 years - all in Asia heard the Word of
         the Lord

   C. MIRACLES AND THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA (11-20)
      1. Handkerchiefs and aprons brought from Paul drove out diseases
         and evil spirits
      2. Traveling Jewish exorcists called on the name of the Lord Jesus
         to cast out evil spirits
      3. Seven sons of Sceva did the same - man with evil spirit
         overpowered them - exposed them as false
      4. This caused many to believe and magnify Jesus
      5. Many magicians came together to burn their magic books
      6. The Word of the Lord "grew mightily and prevailed"

   D. AN UPROAR AT EPHESUS (21-41)
      1. Paul planned to go to Jerusalem, and then to Rome.
      2. He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he remained
         in Asia.
      3. Demetrius, a silversmith, stirred up the people, because Paul
         was preaching that the idols were "not gods which are made with
         hands."
      4. The people became angry, rushed into the theater, and cried
         out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"
      5. The city clerk calmed the crowd
         a. He told Demetrius and the others to take their cases to the
            open courts
         b. He then dismissed the assembly

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul taught those who were only baptized in John's baptism (1-7)
   - Paul taught in the synagogue and the school of Tyrannus (8-10)
   - Miracles performed by Paul and the seven sons of Sceva (11-20)
   - Uproar brought on by Demetrius and the other silversmiths (21-41)

2) What two questions did Paul ask the disciples he first encountered in
   Ephesus? (2-3)
   - Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (2)
   - Into what then were you baptized? (3)

3) When Paul told them they should "believe on Jesus," what did they do?
   (5)
   - They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (5)

4) Paul taught in the synagogue and in the school of Tyrannus for more
   than 2 years.  What were the results of his efforts? (10)
   - All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews
     and Greeks (10)

5) What were brought from Paul's body to heal the sick and drive out
   evil spirits? (12)
   - Handkerchiefs or aprons (12)

6) What did the itinerant Jewish exorcists take upon themselves to do,
   when driving out evil spirits? (13)
   - Call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits
     (13)

7) What resulted when the seven sons of Sceva attempted this? (14-16)
   - Evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
     (15)
   - The man in whom the evil spirit resided leaped on them, overpowered
     them, and prevailed against them. They fled out naked and wounded.
     (16)

8) When this became known to those in Ephesus, what resulted? (17-20)
   - Fear fell on them all and the Lord's name was magnified (17)
   - Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned
     them (19)
   - The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (20)

9) Where did Paul purpose in the Spirit to go? (21)
   - Jerusalem and then to Rome (21)

10) Where did Paul send Timothy and Erastus? (22)
   - Macedonia (22)

11) What did Demetrius tell his fellow silversmiths that Paul had
    persuaded almost all Asia? (26)
   - "They are not gods which are made with hands" (26)

12) What did Demetrius say could happen as a result? (27)
   - Their trade was in danger of falling into disrepute (27)
   - The temple of Diana may be despised (27)
   - Diana's magnificence may be destroyed (27)

13) When the crowd rose up, what did they cry? (28)
   - "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

14) When the crowd rushed into the theater, what did Paul want to do?
    Was he allowed?  By whom? (30)
   - Paul wanted to go in to the people (30)
   - The disciples would not allow him (30)

15) Who finally quieted the crowd? (35)
   - The city clerk (35)

16) How did the city clerk say the image came to be in Ephesus? (35)
   - The image fell down from Zeus (35)

17) Where did the city clerk tell Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths
    to take their cases? What if there were other inquiries?  (38-39)
   - To the open courts and proconsuls (38)
   - Other inquiries were to be determined in the lawful assembly (39)

18) What was this assembly in danger of? (40)
   - May be called in question for today's uproar (40)
   - There was no reason for this disorderly gathering (40)

19) What did the city clerk then do? (41)
   - Dismissed the assembly (41)