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Ezra 6-8 The Decree of Darius 6 King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives stored in the treasury at Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it: Memorandum: 3 In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree…

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. Acts 8:4-8 And, missionary work starts. Luke writes, “of those who were scattered,” Philip, a deacon of the church in Jerusalem (not the Disciple Philip), went to Samaria proclaiming the Gospel. Crowds listened to him as the Holy Spirit worked in the…

Ezra 3-5 Rebuilding the Altar 3 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance…

And Saul approved of his (Stephen’s) execution. Acts 8:1-3 Luke introduces readers to Saul who would become Paul, the Apostle. Saul’s introduction is dark and foreboding for the church in Jerusalem. Though Luke only writes that “Saul approved…” we learn from Paul himself how vile a man he was though he believed he was doing God’s work…

Ezra 1-2 The Proclamation of Cyrus 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of…

Now when they heard these things they were enraged… Acts 7:54-60 Stephen’s sermon so enraged the religious leaders that the Scriptures tells us, “they ground (gnashed) their teeth at him (Stephen).” Gnashing one’s teeth is a physical way of expressing great anger at something or someone. In the case of Stephen, his message of the religious…

2 Chronicles 34-36 Josiah Reigns in Judah 34 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to…

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said… Acts 7:1-53 Stephen, in front of the religious leaders of Israel, is given the opportunity to speak in his defense of the charges the leaders have leveled against him, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of Stephen’s sermon, it is clear…

2 Chronicles 32-33 Sennacherib Invades Judah 32 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men…

…Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some…seized him and brought him before the council… Acts 6:8-15 One of the deacons chosen by the congregation at Jerusalem was named Stephen. Luke writes of Stephen because he became the first martyr of the newly established church in Jerusalem. Luke…