The Book of ACTS - Chapter One

 

1  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

6 Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’

7 He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.’

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 ‘For,’ said Peter, ‘it is written in the Book of Psalms:

‘“May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,”

and,

‘“May another take his place of leadership.”

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

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READINGS 

The Book of ACTS

Chapter One

Read by David Suchet

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OVERVIEW

The Book of ACTS

(The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

 The Book of ACTS

(David Pawson)

Part 1

Part 2

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Ressources Links

Introduction to Acts By John McArthur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZhNnOjC6Lc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daNjNxxHR-0

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The Book of JOEL - Chapter Three

 1  

‘In those days and at that time,

    when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 

I will gather all nations

    and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

There I will put them on trial

    for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,

because they scattered my people among the nations

    and divided up my land.

3 

They cast lots for my people

    and traded boys for prostitutes;

    they sold girls for wine to drink.

4 ‘Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.

7 ‘See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.’ The Lord has spoken.

9 

Proclaim this among the nations:

    Prepare for war!

Rouse the warriors!

    Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

10 

Beat your ploughshares into swords

    and your pruning hooks into spears.

Let the weakling say,

    ‘I am strong!’

11 

Come quickly, all you nations from every side,

    and assemble there.

Bring down your warriors, Lord!

12 

‘Let the nations be roused;

    let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,

for there I will sit

    to judge all the nations on every side.

13 

Swing the sickle,

    for the harvest is ripe.

Come, trample the grapes,

    for the winepress is full

    and the vats overflow –

so great is their wickedness!’

14 

Multitudes, multitudes

    in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near

    in the valley of decision.

15 

The sun and moon will be darkened,

    and the stars no longer shine.

16 

The Lord will roar from Zion

    and thunder from Jerusalem;

    the earth and the heavens will tremble.

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,

    a stronghold for the people of Israel.

17 

‘Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,

    dwell in Zion, my holy hill.

Jerusalem will be holy;

    never again will foreigners invade her.

18 

‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine,

    and the hills will flow with milk;

    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.

A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house

    and will water the valley of acacias.

19 

But Egypt will be desolate,

    Edom a desert waste,

because of violence done to the people of Judah,

    in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20 

Judah will be inhabited for ever

    and Jerusalem through all generations.

21 

Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?

    No, I will not.’

The Lord dwells in Zion!

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READINGS

The Book of JOEL

Chapter Three

Read by David Suchet 

The Book of JOEL

- Overview (The Bible Project)- 

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STUDY - LINKS

 

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