Old/New Testament
Esther
1 3 King Ahasuerus maketh a royal feast. 12 Whereunto the Queen Vashti will not come. 19 For which cause she is divorced. 20 The King’s decree touching the pre-eminence of man.
1 In the days of [a]Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus that reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an [b]hundred, and seven and twenty provinces.)
2 In those days when the king Ahasuerus [c]sat on his throne, which was in the palace of (A)Shushan,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, even the power of Persia and Media, and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him,
4 That he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast to all the people that were found in the palace of Shushan, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,
6 Under an hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble: the [d]beds were of gold and of silver upon a pavement of porphyry, and marble and alabaster, and blue color.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the [e]power of the king.
8 And the drinking was by an order, none might [f]compel: for so the king had appointed unto all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9 ¶ The Queen Vashti made a feast also for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.
10 Upon the [g]seventh day when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs, (that served in the presence of king Ahasuerus)
11 To bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, that he might show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look upon.
12 But the Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word, [h]which he had given in charge to the eunuchs: therefore the King was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.
13 Then the King said to the wise men, [i]that knew the times (for so was the King’s manner towards all that knew the law and the judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan the seven Princes of Persia, and Media, which saw the [j]King’s face, and sat the first in the kingdom.)
15 What shall we do unto the Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not according to the word of the King Ahasuerus by the commission of the eunuchs?
16 Then Memucan answered before the king and the Princes, The Queen Vashti hath not only done [k]evil against the King, but against all the Princes, and against all the people that are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 For the [l]act of the Queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shall say, The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 So shall the [m]Princesses of Persia and Media this day say unto all the King’s Princes, when they hear of the act of the Queen: thus shall there be much despitefulness and wrath.
19 If it please the King, let a royal decree proceed from him, and let it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media, (and let it not be transgressed) that Vashti come [n]no more before king Ahasuerus: and let the king give her royal estate unto her companion that is better than she.
20 And when the decree of the King which shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be [o]great) all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.
21 And this saying pleased the King and the Princes, and the King did according to the word of Memucan.
22 For he sent letters into all the provinces of the King, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should [p]bear rule in his own house, and that he should publish it in the language of that same people.
2 2 After the Queen is put away, certain young maids are brought to the king. 17 Esther pleaseth the King, and is made Queen. 22 Mordecai discloseth unto the king those that would betray him.
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he [q]remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed [r]against her.
2 And the King’s servants that ministered unto him, said, Let them seek for the King beautiful young virgins,
3 And let the King appoint officers through all the provinces of his Kingdom, and let them gather all the beautiful young virgins unto the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai the King’s eunuch, [s]keeper of the women, to give them their things [t]for purification.
4 And the maid that shall please the King, let her reign in the stead of Vashti. And this pleased the king, and he did so.
5 ¶ In the city of Shushan there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish a man of Benjamin,
6 Which had been carried away from Jerusalem (B)with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away.)
7 And he nourished Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful to look on: and after the death of her father, and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
8 And when the king’s commandment, and his decree was published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan, under the hand of Hegai, Esther was brought also unto the King’s house under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the women.
9 And the maid pleased him, and she found favor in his sight, therefore he caused her things for purification to be given her speedily, and her [u]state, and seven comely maids to be given her out of the King’s house, and he gave change to her and to her maids of the best in the house of the women.
10 But Esther showed not her people and her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.
11 And Mordecai walked [v]every day before the court of the women’s house, to know if Esther did well, and what should be done with her.
12 And when the course of every maid came, to go in to King Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months according to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and in the purifying of the women:
13 And thus went the maids unto the King) whatsoever she required, was [w]given her to go with her out of the women’s house unto the king’s house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women under the hand of Shaashgaz the King’s eunuch, which kept the concubines: she came in to the King no more, except she pleased the King, and that she were called by name.
15 Now when the course of Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (which had taken her as his own daughter) came, that she should go in to the king, she desired nothing, but what [x]Hege the king’s eunuch the keeper of the women [y]said: and Esther found favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 ¶ So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the [z]month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins: so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head, and made her Queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes, and his servants, which was [aa]the feast of Esther, and gave rest [ab]unto the provinces, and gifts, according to the [ac]power of a king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered the [ad]second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
20 Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, as when she was nourished with him.
21 ¶ In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay [ae]hand on the King Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, and he told it unto Queen Esther, and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name: and when inquisition was made, it was found so: therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the [af]Chronicles before the king.
5 1 Ananias for his deceit in keeping back part of price, 5 falleth down dead, 10 and likewise Sapphira his wife. 12 Through divers the Apostles’ miracles, 14 the faith is increased. 18 The Apostles that were imprisoned, 19 are delivered by an Angel, 26 and being before the Synod of the Priests, 36 through Gamaliel’s counsel they are kept alive, 40 and beaten: 41 They glorify God.
1 But [a]a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And [b]kept away part of the price, his wife also being of counsel, and brought a certain part, and laid it down at the Apostles’ feet.
3 Then said Peter, Ananias, why hath Satan [c]filled thine heart, that thou shouldest [d]lie unto the holy Ghost, and keep away part of the price of this possession?
4 While it remained, appertained it not unto thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? how is it that thou hast [e]conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and gave up the ghost. Then great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men rose up, and took him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it came to pass about the space of three hours after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.
8 And Peter said unto her, Tell me, sold ye the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, Why have ye agreed together, to [f]tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thine husband, are at the [g]door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then she fell down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
11 [h]And great fear came on all the Church, and on as many as heard these things.
12 Thus by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders showed among the people (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the other durst no man join himself to them: nevertheless the people [i]magnified them.
14 Also the number of them that believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more)
15 Insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the leastway the shadow of Peter, when he came by, might shadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17 ¶ [j]Then the chief Priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which was the [k]sect of the Sadducees) and were full of indignation,
18 And laid hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 [l]But the Angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 [m]Go your way, and stand in the Temple, and speak to the people, all the [n]words of this life.
21 [o]So when they heard it, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the chief Priest came, and they that were with him, and called the Council together, and all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison, to cause them to be brought.
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