Bible in a Year.

On day 332, we see the Church in Jerusalem strengthening its mission in Acts 11. Paul gives guidance on wisdom in service and the importance of unity and humility in 1 Corinthians 3-4. Proverbs 27:23-27 teaches us to diligently manage our resources and responsibilities, reflecting God's practical wisdom.

1. And the apostles and brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3. Saying: Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them?

4. But Peter began and declared to them the matter in order, saying:

5. I was in the city of Joppe praying, and I saw in an ecstasy of mind a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even unto me.

6. Into which looking, I considered, and saw fourfooted creatures of the earth, and beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air:

7. And I heard also a voice saying to me: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

8. And I said: Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

9. And the voice answered again from heaven: What God hath made clean, do not thou call common.

10. And this was done three times: and all were taken up again into heaven.

11. And behold, immediately there were three men come to the house wherein I was, sent to me from Caesarea.

12. And the Spirit said to me, that I should go with them, nothing doubting. And these six brethren went with me also: and we entered into the man's house.

13. And he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing, and saying to him: Send to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

14. Who shall speak to thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, and all thy house.

15. And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, as upon us also in the beginning.

16. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17. If then God gave them the same grace, as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that could withstand God?

18. Having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.

19. Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen, went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only.

20. But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.

22. And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

23. Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord.

24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

25. And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.

26. And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.

27. And in these days there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch:

28. And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit, that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.

29. And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea:

30. Which also they did, sending it to the ancients, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 3

1. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.

2. I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal.

3. For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal, and walk according to man ?

4. For while one saith, I indeed am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollo; are you not men ? What then is Apollo, and what is Paul?

5. The ministers of him whom you have believed; and to every one as the Lord hath given.

6. I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase.

7. Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8. Now he that planteth, and he that watereth, ate one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.

9. For we are God's coadjutors: you are God's husbandry; you are God's building.

10. According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11. For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus.

12. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:

13. Every man's work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.

14. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15. If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

16. Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ?

17. But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.

18. Let no man deceive himself: if any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness.

20. And again: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

21. Let no man therefore glory in men.

22. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to some; for all are yours;

23. And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Chapter 4

1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.

2. Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.

3. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man's day; but neither do I judge my own self.

4. For I am not conscious to myself of any thing, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord.

5. Therefore judge not before the time; until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise from God.

6. But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes; that in us you may learn, that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written.

7. For who distinguisheth thee ? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received ? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it ?

8. You are now full; you are now become rich; you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9. For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

10. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.

11. Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;

12. And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.

13. We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.

14. I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.

15. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.

16. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.

17. For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach every where in every church.

18. As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.

19. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power.

20. For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.

21. What will you ? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness ?

23. Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks :

24. For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation.

25. The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains.

26. Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field.

27. Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids.