Bible in a Year.

On the 334th day, we follow Paul beginning his first missionary journey in Acts 13, proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles. In 1 Corinthians 7-8, we learn about the responsibilities of marriage and the proper use of Christian freedom. Proverbs 28:4-6 emphasizes the importance of living with righteousness and integrity, guided by divine wisdom.

1. Now there were in the church which was at Antioch, prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas, and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2. And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.

3. Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.

4. So they being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Seleucia: and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5. And when they were come to Salamina, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also in the ministry.

6. And when they had gone through the whole island, as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesu:

7. Who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He sending for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God.

8. But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

9. Then Saul, otherwise Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, looking upon him,

10. Said: O full of all guile, and of all deceit, child of the devil, enemy of all justice, thou ceasest not to pervert the right ways of the Lord.

11. And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately there fell a mist and darkness upon him, and going about, he sought some one to lead him by the hand.

12. Then the proconsul, when he had seen what was done, believed, admiring at the doctrine of the Lord.

13. Now when Paul and they that were with him had sailed from Paphos, they came to Perge in Pamphylia. And John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14. But they passing through Perge, came to Antioch in Pisidia: and entering into the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.

15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying: Ye men, brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to make to the people, speak.

16. Then Paul rising up, and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Ye men of Israel, and you that fear God, give ear.

17. The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were sojourners in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought them out from thence,

18. And for the space of forty years endured their manners in the desert.

19. And destroying seven nations in the land of Chanaan, divided their land among them, by lot,

20. As it were, after four hundred and fifty years: and after these things, he gave unto them judges, until Samuel the prophet.

21. And after that they desired a king: and God gave them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years.

22. And when he had removed him, he raised them up David to be king: to whom giving testimony, he said: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who shall do all my wills.

23. Of this man's seed God according to his promise, hath raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

24. John first preaching, before his coming, the baptism of penance to all the people of Israel.

25. And when John was fulfilling his course, he said: I am not he, whom you think me to be: but behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26. Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God, to you the word of this salvation is sent.

27. For they that inhabited Jerusalem, and the rulers thereof, not knowing him, nor the voices of the prophets, which are read every sabbath, judging him have fulfilled them.

28. And finding no cause of death in him, they desired of Pilate, that they might kill him.

29. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, taking him down from the tree, they laid him in a sepulchre.

30. But God raised him up from the dead the third day:

31. Who was seen for many days, by them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this present are his witnesses to the people.

32. And we declare unto you, that the promise which was made to our fathers,

33. This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus, as in the second psalm also is written: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34. And to shew that he raised him up from the dead, not to return now any more to corruption, he said thus: I will give you the holy things of David faithful.

35. And therefore, in another place also, he saith: Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption.

36. For David, when he had served in his generation, according to the will of God, slept: and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.

37. But he whom God hath raised from the dead, saw no corruption.

38. Be it known therefore to you, men, brethren, that through him forgiveness of sins is preached to you: and from all the things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

39. In him every one that believeth, is justified.

40. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

41. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, if any man shall tell it you.

42. And as they went out, they desired them, that on the next sabbath, they would speak unto them these words.

43. And when the synagogue was broken up, many of the Jews, and of the strangers who served God, followed Paul and Barnabas: who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44. But the next sabbath day, the whole city almost came together, to hear the word of God.

45. And the Jews seeing the multitudes, were filled with envy, and contradicted those things which were said by Paul, blaspheming.

46. Then Paul and Barnabas said boldly: To you it behoved us first to speak the word of God: but because you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we turn to the Gentiles.

47. For so the Lord hath commanded us: I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles; that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth.

48. And the Gentiles hearing it, were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to life everlasting, believed.

49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country.

50. But the Jews stirred up religious and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas: and cast them out of their coasts.

51. But they, shaking off the dust of their feet against them, came to Iconium.

52. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.

Chapter 7

1. Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2. But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3. Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

4. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

6. But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

7. For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.

8. But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

9. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

10. But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.

11. And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

12. For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13. And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.

14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.

15. But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.

16. For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband ? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife ?

17. But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.

18. Is any man called, being circumcised ? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision ? let him not be circumcised.

19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

20. Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.

21. Wast thou called, being a bondman ? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

23. You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.

24. Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

25. Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

26. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.

27. Art thou bound to a wife ? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife ? seek not a wife.

28. But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

29. This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;

30. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31. And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32. But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.

33. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

34. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35. And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

36. But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.

37. For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

38. Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.

39. A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40. But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.

Chapter 8

1. Now concerning those things that are sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up; but charity edifieth.

2. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he hath not yet known as he ought to know.

3. But if any any love God, the same is known by him.

4. But as for the meats that are sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.

5. For although there be that are called gods, either in heaven or on earth (for there be gods many, and lords many);

6. Yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7. But there is not knowledge in every one. For some until this present, with conscience of the idol: eat as a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

8. But meat doth not commend us to God. For neither, if we eat, shall we have the more; nor, if we eat not, shall we have the less.

9. But take heed lest perhaps this your liberty become a stumblingblock to the weak.

10. For if a man see him that hath knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not his conscience, being weak, be emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols ?

11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ hath died ?

12. Now when you sin thus against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

13. Wherefore, if meat scandalize my brother, I will never eat flesh, lest I should scandalize my brother.

4. They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep it, are incensed against him.

5. Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the Lord, take notice of all things.

6. Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways.