Old/New Testament
A Prayer of Ezra
9 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents[a] who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race[b] has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all this unfaithfulness!”
3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated. 4 Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe[c] gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile.[d] Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.
5 At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement,[e] with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the Lord my God. 6 I prayed:[f]
“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God! For our iniquities have climbed higher than our heads, and our guilt extends to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers until this very day our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities we, along with our kings and[g] priests, have been delivered over by the local kings[h] to sword, captivity, plunder, and embarrassment—right up to the present time.
8 “But now briefly[i] we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position[j] in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes[k] and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude. 9 Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude. He has extended kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, in that he has revived us[l] to restore the temple of our God and to raise up[m] its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
10 “And now what are we able to say after this, our God? For we have forsaken your commandments 11 which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words:[n] ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents![o] With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your children[p] forever.’
13 “Everything that has happened to us has come about because of our wicked actions and our great guilt. Even so, our God, you have exercised restraint[q] toward our iniquities and have given us a remnant such as this. 14 Shall we once again break your commandments and intermarry with these abominable peoples? Would you not be so angered by us that you would wipe us out, with no survivor or remnant? 15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt[r] no one can really stand before you.”
The People Confess Their Sins
10 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites—men, women, and children alike—gathered around him. The people wept loudly.[s] 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam,[t] addressed Ezra:
“We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying[u] foreign women from the local peoples.[v] Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.[w] 3 Therefore let us enact[x] a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord,[y] and that of those who respect[z] the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law. 4 Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”
5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to carry out this plan.[aa] And they all took a solemn oath. 6 Then Ezra got up from in front of the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed[ab] there, he did not eat food or drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.
7 A proclamation[ac] was circulated[ad] throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem. 8 Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.
10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have behaved in an unfaithful manner by taking foreign wives! This has contributed to the guilt of Israel. 11 Now give praise to the Lord God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the local residents[ae] and from these foreign wives.”
12 All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said![af] 13 However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season.[ag] We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter. 14 Let our leaders take steps[ah] on behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.”
15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were[ai] against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite. 16 So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out[aj] by name men who were leaders in their family groups.[ak] They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, 17 and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.
Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives
18 It was determined[al] that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 (They gave their word[am] to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)
20 From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26 From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 From the descendants of Pahath Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 From[an] the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 From the descendants of Bani:[ao] Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 From[ap] the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.[aq]
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
1 I wrote[a] the former[b] account,[c] Theophilus,[d] about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven,[e] after he had given orders[f] by[g] the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 To the same apostles[h] also, after his suffering,[i] he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period[j] and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.[k] 4 While he was with them,[l] he declared,[m] “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there[n] for what my[o] Father promised,[p] which you heard about from me.[q] 5 For[r] John baptized with water, but you[s] will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him,[t] “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know[u] the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts[v] of the earth.” 9 After[w] he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As[x] they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly[y] two men in white clothing stood near them 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here[z] looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven[aa] will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
A Replacement for Judas is Chosen
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain[ab] called the Mount of Olives[ac] (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey[ad] away). 13 When[ae] they had entered Jerusalem,[af] they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter[ag] and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.[ah] 14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[ai] 15 In those days[aj] Peter stood up among the believers[ak] (a gathering of about 120 people) and said, 16 “Brothers,[al] the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through[am] David concerning Judas—who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.”[an] 18 (Now this man Judas[ao] acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed,[ap] and falling headfirst[aq] he burst open in the middle and all his intestines[ar] gushed out. 19 This[as] became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language[at] they called that field[au] Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted,[av] and let there be no one to live in it,’[aw] and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’[ax] 21 Thus one of the men[ay] who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with[az] us, 22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he[ba] was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.” 23 So they[bb] proposed two candidates:[bc] Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed,[bd] “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to assume the task[be] of this service[bf] and apostleship from which Judas turned aside[bg] to go to his own place.”[bh] 26 Then[bi] they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias;[bj] so he was counted with the eleven apostles.[bk]
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