Bible in a Year.

On day 342, we follow Paul as he arrives in Jerusalem, facing challenges and reaffirming his commitment to the church. In 2 Corinthians 6-8, he encourages generosity and faithfulness in communities, while Proverbs 29:1-4 reminds us of the importance of listening to and following wise counsel in everyday life.

1. And when it came to pass that, being parted from them, we set sail, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara.

2. And when we had found a ship sailing over to Phenice, we went aboard, and set forth.

3. And when we had discovered Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed into Syria, and came to Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

4. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5. And the days being expired, departing we went forward, they all bringing us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and we prayed.

6. And when we had bid one another farewell, we took ship; and they returned home.

7. But we having finished the voyage by sea, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais: and saluting the brethren, we abode one day with them.

8. And the next day departing, we came to Caesarea. And entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.

9. And he had four daughters, virgins, who did prophesy.

10. And as we tarried there for some days, there came from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11. Who, when he was come to us, took Paul's girdle: and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, the Jews shall bind in this manner in Jerusalem, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12. Which when we had heard, both we and they that were of that place, desired him that he would not go up to Jerusalem.

13. Then Paul answered, and said: What do you mean weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but to die also in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14. And when we could not persuade him, we ceased, saying: The will of the Lord be done.

15. And after those days, being prepared, we went up to Jerusalem.

16. And there went also with us some of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18. And the day following, Paul went in with us unto James; and all the ancients were assembled.

19. Whom when he had saluted, he related particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20. But they hearing it, glorified God, and said to him: Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews that have believed: and they are all zealous for the law.

21. Now they have heard of thee that thou teachest those Jews, who are among the Gentiles, to depart from Moses: saying, that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor walk according to the custom.

22. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

23. Do therefore this that we say to thee. We have four men, who have a vow on them.

24. Take these, and sanctify thyself with them: and bestow on them, that they may shave their heads: and all will know that the things which they have heard of thee, are false; but that thou thyself also walkest keeping the law.

25. But as touching the Gentiles that believe, we have written, decreeing that they should only refrain themselves from that which has been offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangles, and from fornication.

26. Then Paul took the men, and the next day being purified with them, entered into the temple, giving notice of the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an oblation should be offered for every one of them.

27. But when the seven days were drawing to an end, those Jews that were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands upon him, crying out:

28. Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover hath brought in Gentiles into the temple, and hath violated this holy place.

29. (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30. And the whole city was in an uproar: and the people ran together. And taking Paul, they drew him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

31. And as they went about to kill him, it was told the tribune of the band, That all Jerusalem was in confusion.

32. Who, forthwith taking with him soldiers and centurions, ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers they left off beating Paul.

33. Then the tribune coming near, took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains: and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

34. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude. And when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

35. And when he was come to the stairs, it fell out that he was carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people.

36. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying: Away with him.

37. And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith to the tribune: May speak something to thee? Who said: Canst thou speak Greek?

38. Art not thou that Egyptian who before these days didst raise a tumult, and didst lead forth into the desert four thousand men that were murderers?

39. But Paul said to him: I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the people.

40. And when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. And a great silence being made, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:

Chapter 6

1. And we helping do exhort you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain.

2. For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee; and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3. Giving no offence to any man, that our ministry be not blamed:

4. But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses,

5. In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

6. In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,

7. In the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left;

8. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet known;

9. As dying, and behold we live; as chastised, and not killed;

10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as needy, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11. Our mouth is open to you, O ye Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.

12. You are not straitened in us, but in your own bowels you are straitened.

13. But having the same recompense, (I speak as to my children,) be you also enlarged.

14. Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?

15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?

16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17. Wherefore, Go out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing:

18. And I will receive you; and I will be a Father to you; and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Chapter 7

1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sactification in the fear of God.

2. Receive us. We have injured no man, we have corrupted no man, we have overreached no man.

3. I speak not this to your condemnation. For we have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die together, and to live together.

4. Great is my confidence for you, great is my glorying for you. I am filled with comfort: I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulation.

5. For also when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we suffered all tribulation; combats without, fears within.

6. But God, who comforteth the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

7. And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation, wherewith he was comforted in you, relating to us your desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.

8. For although I made you sorrowful by my epistle, I do not repent; and if I did repent, seeing that the same epistle (although but for a time) did make you sorrowful;

9. Now I am glad: not because you were made sorrowful; but because you were made sorrowful unto penance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing.

10. For the sorrow that is according to God worketh penance, steadfast unto salvation; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11. For behold this selfsame thing, that you were made sorrowful according to God, how great carefulness it worketh in you; yea defence, yea indignation, yea fear, yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge: in all things you have shewed yourselves to be undefiled in the matter.

12. Wherefore although I wrote to you, it was not for his sake that I did the wrong, nor for him that suffered it; but to manifest our carefulness that we have for you

13. Before God: therefore we were comforted. But in our consolation, we did the more abundantly rejoice for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14. And if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I have not been put to shame; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so also our boasting that was made to Titus is found a truth.

15. And his bowels are more abundantly towards you; remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you have received him.

16. I rejoice that in all things I have confidence in you.

Chapter 8

1. Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.

2. That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy; and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.

3. For according to their power ( I bear them witness), and beyond their power, they were willing.

4. With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.

5. And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:

6. Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

7. That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.

8. I speak not as commanding; but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.

10. And herein I give my advice; for this is profitable for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

11. Now therefore perform ye it also in deed; that as your mind is forward to be willing, so it may be also to perform, out of that which you have.

12. For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, not according to that which he hath not.

13. For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened, but by an equality.

14. In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,

15. As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over; and he that had little, had no want.

16. And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.

17. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more careful, of his own will he went unto you.

18. We have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches.

19. And not that only, but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord, and our determined will:

20. Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us.

21. For we forecast what may be good not only before God, but also before men.

22. And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things; but now much more diligent, with much confidence in you,

23. Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24. Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity, and of our boasting on your behalf.

1. The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him.

2. When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn.

3. A man that loveth wisdom, rejoiceth his father: but he that maintaineth bar lots, shall squander away his substance.

4. A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it.