Bible in a Year.

On day 331 of the plan, we follow Peter's call to preach to the Gentiles in Acts 10, marking the expansion of the Church. First Corinthians 1-2 presents us with the fundamental principles of Paul's teaching and the wisdom of God revealed to the humble. Proverbs 27:21-22 reminds us of the importance of testing and discipline in refining character.

1. And there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of that which is called the Italian band;

2. A religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and always praying to God.

3. This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him: Cornelius.

4. And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a memorial in the sight of God.

5. And now send men to Joppe, and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:

6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell thee what thou must do.

7. And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them that were under him.

8. To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe.

9. And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey, and drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

10. And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.

11. And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth:

12. Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.

13. And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

14. But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.

15. And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.

16. And this was done thrice; and presently the vessel was taken up into heaven.

17. Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself, what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon's house, stood at the gate.

18. And when they had called, they asked, if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19. And as Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold three men seek thee.

20. Arise, therefore, get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21. Then Peter, going down to the men, said: Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause for which you are come?

22. Who said: Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23. Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following he arose, and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe accompanied him.

24. And the morrow after, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special friends.

25. And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.

26. But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man.

27. And talking with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28. And he said to them: You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean.

29. For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what cause you have sent for me?

30. And Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying in my house, at the ninth hour, and behold a man stood before me in white apparel, and said:

31. Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32. Send therefore to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.

33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore all we are present in thy sight, to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord.

34. And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons.

35. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him.

36. God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)

37. You know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,

38. Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39. And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree.

40. Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,

41. Not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he arose again from the dead;

42. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was appointed by God, to be judge of the living and of the dead.

43. To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him.

44. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word.

45. And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

46. For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God.

47. Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?

48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days.

Chapter 1

1. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes a brother,

2. To the church of God that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place of theirs and ours.

3. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus,

5. That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

6. As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

7. So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9. God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment.

11. For it hath been signified unto me, my brethren, of you, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I am of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14. I give God thanks, that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Caius;

15. Lest any should say that you were baptized in my name.

16. And I baptized also the household of Stephanus; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

18. For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.

19. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.

20. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21. For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe.

22. For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

24. But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26. For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble:

27. But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong.

28. And the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:

29. That no flesh should glory in his sight.

30. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption:

31. That, as it is written: He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.

Chapter 2

1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ.

2. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power;

5. That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought;

7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory :

8. Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

9. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.

10. But to us God hath revealed them, by this Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.

12. Now we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God; that we may know the things that are given us from God.

13. Which things also we speak, not in the learned words of human wisdom; but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14. But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God; for it is foolishness to him, and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.

15. But the spiritual man judgeth all things; and he himself is judged of no man.

16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that we may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

21. As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.

22. Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him.