Asa’s Last Years^(A)(B)

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha^(C) king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

² Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.^{(D) 3} “Let there be a treaty^(E) between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

⁴ Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim^[a] and all the store cities of Naphtali.^{(F) 5} When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. ⁶ Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.^(G)

⁷ At that time Hanani^(H) the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied^(I) on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were not the Cushites^[b](J) and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers^(K) of chariots and horsemen^[c]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered^(L) them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes^(M) of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish^(N) thing, and from now on you will be at war.^(O)”

¹⁰ Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison.^(P) At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

¹¹ The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted^(Q) with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek^(R) help from the Lord,^(S) but only from the physicians. ¹³ Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. ¹⁴ They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself^(T) in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes,^(U) and they made a huge fire^(V) in his honor.

A Lament Over Pharaoh

32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 2} “Son of man, take up a lament^(B) concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹⁶ “This is the lament^(Y) they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

¹⁷ In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(Z) 18} “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign^(AA) to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.^{(AB) 19} Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’^{(AC) 20} They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged^(AD) off with all her hordes.^{(AE) 21} From within the realm of the dead^(AF) the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised,^(AG) with those killed by the sword.’

²² “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. ²³ Their graves are in the depths of the pit^(AH) and her army lies around her grave.^(AI) All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

²⁴ “Elam^(AJ) is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.^(AK) All who had spread terror in the land of the living^(AL) went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.^{(AM) 25} A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised,^(AN) killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

²⁶ “Meshek and Tubal^(AO) are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. ²⁷ But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,^[b](AP) who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields^[c] resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

²⁸ “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

²⁹ “Edom^(AQ) is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.^(AR)

³⁰ “All the princes of the north^(AS) and all the Sidonians^(AT) are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised^(AU) with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.^(AV)

³¹ “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled^(AW) for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord. ³² Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh^(AX) and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”^(AY)

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 One day Peter and John^(A) were going up to the temple^(B) at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.^{(C) 2} Now a man who was lame from birth^(D) was being carried to the temple gate^(E) called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg^(F) from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(G) walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,^(H) and praising God. ⁹ When all the people^(I) saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,^(J) and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John,^(K) all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(L) 12} When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,^(M) the God of our fathers,^(N) has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over^(O) to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,^(P) though he had decided to let him go.^{(Q) 14} You disowned the Holy^(R) and Righteous One^(S) and asked that a murderer be released to you.^{(T) 15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.^(U) We are witnesses^(V) of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus,^(W) this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

¹⁷ “Now, fellow Israelites,^(X) I know that you acted in ignorance,^(Y) as did your leaders.^{(Z) 18} But this is how God fulfilled^(AA) what he had foretold^(AB) through all the prophets,^(AC) saying that his Messiah would suffer.^{(AD) 19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,^(AE) that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah,^(AF) who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must receive him^(AG) until the time comes for God to restore everything,^(AH) as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.^{(AI) 22} For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.^{(AJ) 23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’^[a](AK)

²⁴ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets^(AL) who have spoken have foretold these days. ²⁵ And you are heirs^(AM) of the prophets and of the covenant^(AN) God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^{[b](AO) 26} When God raised up^(AP) his servant, he sent him first^(AQ) to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard^(AR) and the Sadducees^(AS) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.^{(AT) 3} They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(AU) until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew^(AV) to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers,^(AW) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,^(AX) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(AY) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!^{(AZ) 9} If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame^(BA) and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(BB) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,^(BC) that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”^(BE)

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John^(BF) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,^(BG) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.^{(BH) 14} But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin^(BI) and then conferred together. ¹⁶ “What are we going to do with these men?”^(BJ) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,^(BK) and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^{(BL) 19} But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?^(BM) You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking^(BN) about what we have seen and heard.”^(BO)

²¹ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people^(BP) were praising God^(BQ) for what had happened. ²² For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^(BR) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^{(BS) 25} You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^(BT)

²⁷ Indeed Herod^(BV) and Pontius Pilate^(BW) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(BX) whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^{(BY) 29} Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.^{(BZ) 30} Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^(CA) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”^(CB)

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^(CC) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^(CD) and spoke the word of God^(CE) boldly.^(CF)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.^{(CG) 33} With great power the apostles continued to testify^(CH) to the resurrection^(CI) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^(CJ) was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,^(CK) brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet,^(CL) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^(CM)

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas^(CN) (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(CO)