Day 215 of 365

1 Chr 28:1–21

1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by division, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.

2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, "Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.

3 But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.'

4 However the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.

5 Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the Lord's kingdom over Israel.

6 He said to me, 'Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.'

8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

10 Take heed now; for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it."

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner rooms of it, and of the place of the mercy seat;

12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of the Lord, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God's house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;

13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord;

14 of gold by weight for the gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;

15 by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand;

16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;

17 and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;

18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

19 "All this," said David, "I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of the Lord, even all the works of this pattern."

20 David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God's house. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command."

Acts 28:1–31

1 When we had escaped, then we learned that the island was called Malta.

2 The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live."

5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and was not harmed.

6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days.

8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.

9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured.

10 They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

11 After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was "The Twin Brothers."

12 Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13 From there we weighed anchor and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,

14 where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.

15 From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage.

16 When we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

17 It happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the Jewish leaders. When they had come together, he said to them, "I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 But when the Judeans spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.

20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."

21 They said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you.

22 But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against."

23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about the Kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

25 When they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to your fathers,

26 saying, 'Go to this people, and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive.

27 For this people's heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.'

28 "Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also listen." [

29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]

30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who were coming to him,

31 proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

Ps 92:1–15

1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, Most High;

2 to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,

3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre.

4 For you, Lord, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands.

5 How great are your works, Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.

6 A senseless man doesn't know, neither does a fool understand this:

7 though the wicked spring up as the grass, and all the evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

8 But you, Lord, are on high forevermore.

9 For, behold, your enemies, Lord, for, behold, your enemies shall perish. All the evildoers will be scattered.

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.

11 My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 They are planted in the Lord's house. They will flourish in our God's courts.

14 They will still bring forth fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,

15 to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.