M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Samson Serves as Judge
15 Later, during the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife. He took a young goat along for her. He said, “I’m going to sleep with my wife in her bedroom.”
But her father would not let him go in. 2 Her father said, “I thought you hated her. So I gave her to your best man. Isn’t her younger sister better looking? Marry her instead!”
3 Samson said to him, “This time I won’t be guilty when I get even with the Philistines, even though I’m going to do something terrible to them.” 4 So Samson caught 300 foxes. He tied them together in pairs by their tails. Then he fastened a torch between their tails. 5 He set the torches on fire and released the foxes in the Philistines’ grain fields. So he set fire to all their grain, whether it was stacked or in the fields. Their olive orchards also caught on fire.
6 Some Philistines asked, “Who did this?”
They were told, “Samson! He’s the son-in-law of the man at Timnah. Samson did it because the man at Timnah took Samson’s wife and gave her to his best man.” So the Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father to death.
7 Samson said to them, “If that’s how you’re going to act, I’ll get even with you before I stop.” 8 So he attacked them violently and slaughtered them. Then he went to live in a cave in the cliff at Etam.
9 The Philistines came, camped in Judah, and overran Lehi. 10 The men of Judah asked, “Why did you come to fight us?”
The Philistines answered, “We’ve come to tie up Samson and do to him what he did to us.”
11 So 3,000 men from Judah went to the cave in the cliff at Etam. They said to Samson, “Don’t you know that the Philistines rule us? Why have you done this to us?”
Samson replied, “I did to them what they did to me.”
12 So the men from Judah told him, “We’ve come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”
Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you won’t harm me yourselves.”
13 They told him, “We promise we’ll only tie you up and hand you over to them. We certainly won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.
14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines met him with shouts of triumph. But the Ruach Yahweh came over him. The ropes on his arms became like strings burned in a fire, and those on his hands snapped.
15 Samson found the jawbone from a donkey that had just died. He picked it up and killed 1,000 men with it. 16 Then Samson said,
“With a jawbone from a donkey,
I’ve made two piles of them.
With a jawbone from a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men.”
17 When he finished saying this, he threw the jawbone away. He called that place Ramath Lehi [Jawbone Hill].
18 Samson was very thirsty. So he called out to Yahweh and said, “You have given me this great victory. But now I’ll die from thirst and fall into the power of godless men.”
19 So Elohim split open the hollow place at Lehi, and water gushed out. Samson drank some water. Then he was refreshed and revived. So he called the place En Hakkore [Spring of the One Who Calls Out]. It is still there at Lehi today.
20 Samson judged Israel for 20 years during the time of the Philistines.
Paul in Ephesus
19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces to get to the city of Ephesus. He met some disciples in Ephesus 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They answered him, “No, we’ve never even heard of the Holy Spirit.”
3 Paul asked them, “What kind of baptism did you have?”
They answered, “John’s baptism.”
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.[a] John told people to believe in Yeshua, who was coming later.”
5 After they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Yeshua. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed. 7 About twelve men were in the group.
8 For three months Paul would go into the synagogue and speak boldly. He had discussions with people to convince them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and had nothing good to say in front of the crowd about the way of Christ, he left them. He took his disciples and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11 God worked unusual miracles through Paul. 12 People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin to those who were sick. Their sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave them.
13 Some Jews used to travel from place to place and force evil spirits out of people. They tried to use the name of the Lord Yeshua to force evil spirits out of those who were possessed. These Jews would say, “I order you to come out in the name of Yeshua, whom Paul talks about.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 But the evil spirit answered them, “I know Yeshua, and I’m acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man possessed by the evil spirit attacked them. He beat them up so badly that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.
17 All the Jews and Greeks living in the city of Ephesus heard about this. All of them were filled with awe for the name of the Lord Yeshua and began to speak very highly about it. 18 Many believers openly admitted their involvement with magical spells and told all the details. 19 Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins. 20 In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength.
21 After all these things had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem by traveling through Macedonia and Greece. He said, “After I have been there, I must see Rome.” 22 So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed longer in the province of Asia.
A Riot in Ephesus
23 During that time a serious disturbance concerning the way of Christ broke out in the city of Ephesus.
24 Demetrius, a silversmith, was in the business of making silver models of the temple of Artemis. His business brought a huge profit for the men who worked for him. 25 He called a meeting of his workers and others who did similar work. Demetrius said, “Men, you know that we’re earning a good income from this business, 26 and you see and hear what this man Paul has done. He has won over a large crowd that follows him not only in Ephesus but also throughout the province of Asia. He tells people that gods made by humans are not gods. 27 There’s a danger that people will discredit our line of work, and there’s a danger that people will think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is nothing. Then she whom all Asia and the rest of the world worship will be robbed of her glory.”
28 When Demetrius’ workers and the others heard this, they became furious and began shouting, “Artemis of the Ephesians is great!” 29 The confusion spread throughout the city, and the people had one thought in mind as they rushed into the theater. They grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who traveled with Paul, and they dragged the two men into the theater with them.
30 Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but his disciples wouldn’t let him. 31 Even some officials who were from the province of Asia and who were Paul’s friends sent messengers to urge him not to risk going into the theater.
32 Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn’t even know why they had come together. 33 Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them. 34 But when they recognized that Alexander was a Jew, everyone started to shout in unison, “Artemis of the Ephesians is great!” They kept doing this for about two hours.
35 The city clerk finally quieted the crowd. Then he said, “Citizens of Ephesus, everyone knows that this city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis. Everyone knows that Ephesus is the keeper of the statue that fell down from Zeus. 36 No one can deny this. So you have to be quiet and not do anything foolish. 37 The men you brought here don’t rob temples or insult our goddess. 38 If Demetrius and the men who work for him have a legal complaint against anyone, we have special days and officials to hold court. That’s where they should bring charges against each other. 39 If you want anything else, you must settle the matter in a legal assembly. 40 At this moment we run the risk of being accused of rioting today for no reason. We won’t be able to explain this mob.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.[b]
Hananiah’s False Prophecy
28 In that same year, early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of his fourth year as king, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in Yahweh’s temple. He said to me in front of the priests and all the people, 2 “This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Elohim of Israel, says: I will break the yoke[a] of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back all the utensils of Yahweh’s temple that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from this place and carried off to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakin, son of King Jehoiakim of Judah, and all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon, declares Yahweh. So I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”
5 The prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people standing in Yahweh’s temple. 6 He said, “Amen! May Yahweh do this! May Yahweh make your prophecy come true and bring back the utensils of Yahweh’s temple and all the captives from Babylon to this place. 7 But now listen to this message that I am speaking to you and to all the people: 8 Long ago, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied wars, disasters, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesied peace was recognized as a prophet that Yahweh sent only if the message of the prophet came true.”
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it. 11 Hananiah said in front of all the people, “This is what Yahweh says: In the same way, I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.” Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12 After the prophet Hananiah broke the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 “Tell Hananiah, ‘This is what Yahweh says: You have broken the wooden yoke, but I[b] will replace it with an iron yoke. 14 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Elohim of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations so that they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will serve him! I will even make wild animals serve him.’”
15 Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Now listen, Hananiah, Yahweh hasn’t sent you. You have made these people believe a lie. 16 This is what Yahweh says: I’m going to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have encouraged rebellion against Yahweh.”
17 So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.
The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)
14 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Yeshua and to kill him. 2 However, they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there will be a riot among the people.”
A Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb(B)
3 Yeshua was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Yeshua was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some who were there were irritated and said to one another, “Why was the perfume wasted like this? 5 This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.” So they said some very unkind things to her.
6 Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you. 8 She did what she could. She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 9 I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas Plans to Betray Jesus(C)
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests to betray Yeshua. 11 They were pleased to hear what Judas had to say and promised to give him money. So he kept looking for a chance to betray Yeshua.
Preparations for the Passover(D)
12 Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Yeshua, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13 He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, ‘Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there.”
16 The disciples left. They went into the city and found everything as Yeshua had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Yeshua arrived with the twelve apostles.
Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him(E)
18 While they were at the table eating, Yeshua said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!”
19 Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you?”
20 He said to them, “It’s one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.”
The Lord’s Supper(F)
22 While they were eating, Yeshua took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take this. This is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave the cup to them. They all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the promise.[a] It is poured out for many people.
25 “I can guarantee this truth: I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine in the kingdom of God.”
26 After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(G)
27 Then Yeshua said to them, “All of you will abandon me. Scripture says,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 “But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”
29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I won’t.”
30 Yeshua said to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
31 But Peter said very strongly, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you.” All the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane(H)
32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Stay here while I pray.”
33 He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished. 34 He said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake.”
35 After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. 36 He said, “Abba![b] Father! You can do anything. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”
37 He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? 38 Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”
39 He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 He found them asleep because they couldn’t keep their eyes open. They didn’t even know what they should say to him.
41 He came back a third time and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. It’s all over.[c] The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 42 Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”
Jesus Is Arrested(I)
43 Just then, while Yeshua was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders of the people. 44 Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away.”
45 Then Judas quickly stepped up to Yeshua and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
46 Some men took hold of Yeshua and arrested him. 47 One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant.
48 Yeshua asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? 49 I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true.”
50 Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
51 A certain young man was following Yeshua. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him, 52 but he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.
The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council(J)
53 The men took Yeshua to the chief priest. All the chief priests, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings had gathered together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Yeshua in order to execute him. But they couldn’t find any. 56 Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I’ll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I’ll build another temple, one not made by human hands.’” 59 But their testimony did not agree even on this point.
60 So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Yeshua, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?”
61 But he was silent.
The chief priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 Yeshua answered, “Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64 You’ve heard him dishonor God! What’s your verdict?”
All of them condemned him with the death sentence. 65 Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, “Prophesy!” Even the guards took him and slapped him.
Peter Denies Jesus(K)
66 Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest’s female servants 67 saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, “You, too, were with Yeshua from Nazareth!”
68 But Peter denied it by saying, “I don’t know him, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.[d]
69 The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” 70 Peter again denied it.
After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, “It’s obvious you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean!”
71 Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Yeshua said to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter began to cry very hard.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.