Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened^(A) himself against Israel. ² He stationed troops in all the fortified cities^(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.^(C)

³ The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David^(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals ⁴ but sought^(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵ The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts^(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.^{(G) 6} His heart was devoted^(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places^(I) and the Asherah poles^(J) from Judah.^(K)

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach^(L) in the towns of Judah. ⁸ With them were certain Levites^(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law^(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ The fear^(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs^(P) brought him flocks:^(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

¹² Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah ¹³ and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Their enrollment^(R) by families was as follows:

¹⁹ These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities^(U) throughout Judah.^(V)

Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword^(A) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,^{(B) 3} and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet^(C) to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning^(D) and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.^{(E) 5} Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.^(F) If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.^{(G) 6} But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’^(H)

⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(I) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(J) 8} When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,^(K)’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(L) 9} But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,^(M) they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.^(N)

¹⁰ “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away^(O) because of^[b] them. How then can we live?^(P)”’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.^(Q) Turn!^(R) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’^(S)

¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,^(T) ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’^{(U) 13} If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.^{(V) 14} And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just^(W) and right— ¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge^(X) for a loan, return what they have stolen,^(Y) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.^{(Z) 16} None of the sins^(AA) that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.^(AB)

¹⁷ “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. ¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil,^(AC) they will die for it.^{(AD) 19} And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.^{(AE) 20} Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”^(AF)

Jerusalem’s Fall Explained

²¹ In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped^(AG) from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!^(AH)” ²² Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me,^(AI) and he opened my mouth^(AJ) before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.^(AK)

²³ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, the people living in those ruins^(AL) in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many;^(AM) surely the land has been given to us as our possession.’^{(AN) 25} Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat^(AO) meat with the blood^(AP) still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?^{(AQ) 26} You rely on your sword, you do detestable things,^(AR) and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife.^(AS) Should you then possess the land?’

²⁷ “Say this to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.^{(AT) 28} I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains^(AU) of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.^{(AV) 29} Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate^(AW) waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’^(AX)

³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ ³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(AY) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(AZ) for unjust gain.^{(BA) 32} Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs^(BB) with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.^(BC)

³³ “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.^(BD)”

The Lord Will Be Israel’s Shepherd

34 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?^{(BE) 3} You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.^{(BF) 4} You have not strengthened the weak or healed^(BG) the sick or bound up^(BH) the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.^{(BI) 5} So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,^(BJ) and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.^{(BK) 6} My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.^(BL) They were scattered^(BM) over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.^(BN)

⁷ “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered^(BO) and has become food for all the wild animals,^(BP) and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,^{(BQ) 9} therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁰ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against^(BR) the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue^(BS) my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.^(BT)

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep^(BU) and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd^(BV) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.^{(BW) 13} I will bring them out from the nations and gather^(BX) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.^(BY) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.^{(BZ) 14} I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel^(CA) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture^(CB) on the mountains of Israel.^{(CC) 15} I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,^(CD) declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(CE) 16} I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up^(CF) the injured and strengthen the weak,^(CG) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.^(CH) I will shepherd the flock with justice.^(CI)

¹⁷ “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.^{(CJ) 18} Is it not enough^(CK) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?^(CL) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? ¹⁹ Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

²⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.^{(CM) 21} Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns^(CN) until you have driven them away, ²² I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.^{(CO) 23} I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend^(CP) them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.^{(CQ) 24} I the Lord will be their God,^(CR) and my servant David^(CS) will be prince among them.^(CT) I the Lord have spoken.^(CU)

²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant^(CV) of peace^(CW) with them and rid the land of savage beasts^(CX) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.^{(CY) 26} I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.^[c](CZ) I will send down showers in season;^(DA) there will be showers of blessing.^{(DB) 27} The trees will yield their fruit^(DC) and the ground will yield its crops;^(DD) the people will be secure^(DE) in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke^(DF) and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.^{(DG) 28} They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,^(DH) and no one will make them afraid.^{(DI) 29} I will provide for them a land renowned^(DJ) for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine^(DK) in the land or bear the scorn^(DL) of the nations.^{(DM) 30} Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(DN) 31} You are my sheep,^(DO) the sheep of my pasture,^(DP) and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Ananias and Sapphira

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,^(A) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(B)

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan^(C) has so filled your heart^(D) that you have lied to the Holy Spirit^(E) and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?^{(F) 4} Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?^(G) What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”^(H)

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.^(I) And great fear^(J) seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,^(K) and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”^(L)

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?^(M) Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.^(N) Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.^{(O) 11} Great fear^(P) seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders^(Q) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^(R) in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(S) 13} No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^{(T) 14} Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^{(U) 15} As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.^{(V) 16} Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.^(W)

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party^(X) of the Sadducees,^(Y) were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^{(Z) 19} But during the night an angel^(AA) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail^(AB) and brought them out.^{(AC) 20} “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”^(AD)

²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates^(AE) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin^(AF)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²² But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.^(AG) So they went back and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests^(AH) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵ Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people^(AI) would stone them.

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin^(AJ) to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”^(AK) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”^(AL)

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^{(AM) 30} The God of our ancestors^(AN) raised Jesus from the dead^(AO)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.^{(AP) 31} God exalted him to his own right hand^(AQ) as Prince and Savior^(AR) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.^{(AS) 32} We are witnesses of these things,^(AT) and so is the Holy Spirit,^(AU) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious^(AV) and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,^(AW) a teacher of the law,^(AX) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census^(AY) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.^{(AZ) 39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”^(BA)

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.^(BB) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing^(BC) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.^{(BD) 42} Day after day, in the temple courts^(BE) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news^(BF) that Jesus is the Messiah.^(BG)