Bible in a Year.

On day 327, Acts 6 shows the organization of the early Church to serve those in need, choosing men of good reputation. Romans 9-10 explores God's sovereignty and the calling of Israel, emphasizing that faith is the path to salvation. Proverbs 27:10-12 advises us to seek wise guidance and consider the advice of close friends, avoiding pitfalls and dangers.

1. And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2. Then the twelve calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5. And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

6. These they set before the apostles; and they praying, imposed hands upon them.

7. And the word of the Lord increased; and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly: a great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.

8. And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.

9. Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.

11. Then they suborned men to say, they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.

12. And they stirred up the people, and the ancients, and the scribes; and running together, they took him, and brought him to the council.

13. And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.

14. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us.

15. And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.

Chapter 9

1. And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once, of Isaac our father.

11. For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand,)

12. Not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.

13. As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.

14. What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? God forbid.

15. For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17. For the scripture saith to Pharao: To this purpose have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

18. Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will; and whom he will, he hardeneth.

19. Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will?

20. O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus?

21. Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction,

23. That he might shew the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath prepared unto glory?

24. Even us, whom also he hath called, nor only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles.

25. As in Osee he saith: I will call that which was not my people, my people; and her that was not beloved, beloved; and her that had not obtained mercy, one that hath obtained mercy.

26. And it shall be, in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there they shall be called the sons of the living God.

27. And Isaias crieth out concerning Israel: If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

28. For he shall finish his word, and cut it short in justice; because a short word shall the Lord make upon the earth.

29. And as Isaias foretold: Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been made as Sodom, and we had been like unto Gomorrha.

30. What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who followed not after justice, have attained to justice, even the justice that is of faith.

31. But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice.

32. Why so? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone.

33. As it is written: Behold I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and a rock of scandal; and whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.

Chapter 10

1. Brethren, the will of my heart, indeed, and my prayer to God, is for them unto salvation.

2. For I bear them witness, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3. For they, not knowing the justice of God, and seeking to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the justice of God.

4. For the end of the law is Christ, unto justice to every one that believeth.

5. For Moses wrote, that the justice which is of the law, the man that shall do it, shall live by it.

6. But the justice which is of faith, speaketh thus: Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;

7. Or who shall descend into the deep? that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.

8. But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. This is the word of faith, which we preach.

9. For if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10. For, with the heart, we believe unto justice; but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

11. For the scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him, shall not be confounded.

12. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him.

13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.

14. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?

15. And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

16. But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report?

17. Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

18. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the whole world.

19. But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, Moses saith: I will provoke you to jealousy by that which is not a nation; by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20. But Isaias is bold, and saith: I was found by them that did not seek me: I appeared openly to them that asked not after me.

21. But to Israel he saith: All the day long have I spread my hands to a people that believeth not, and contradicteth me.

10. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend forsake not: and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother afar off.

11. Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth.

12. The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses.