The Walker's Diary for: Thursday Jul 18, 2019
Acts 21:1-25
Exodus 32:7, 26-27, 29
Psalm 78:21-38
Acts 21:1-25
After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. [2] We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. [3] After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. [4] Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. [5] But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. [6] After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
[7] We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. [8] Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. [9] He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
[10] After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. [11] Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' "
[12] When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. [13] Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." [14] When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."
[15] After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. [16] Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
[17] When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. [18] The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. [19] Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
[20] When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. [21] They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. [22] What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, [23] so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. [24] Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. [25] As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
Exodus 32:7
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.
Exodus 32:26-27
So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
[27] Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' "
Exodus 32:29
Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
Psalm 78:21-38
When the Lord heard them, he was very angry;
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
[22] for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance.
[23] Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
[24] he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
[25] Men ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
[26] He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and led forth the south wind by his power.
[27] He rained meat down on them like dust,
flying birds like sand on the seashore.
[28] He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
[29] They ate till they had more than enough,
for he had given them what they craved.
[30] But before they turned from the food they craved,
even while it was still in their mouths,
[31] God's anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.
[32] In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
[33] So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
[34] Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
[35] They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
[36] But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
[37] their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
[38] Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
