Job 25; Job 26; Job 27; Acts 12

1 Then Bildad from Shuah replied [to Job],

2 "Authority and terror belong to God. He establishes peace in his high places.

3 Is there any [limit to the] number of his troops? Is there anyone on whom his light does not rise?

4 How can a person be righteous to God? How can anyone born of a woman be pure?

5 Even the moon isn't bright, and the stars aren't pure in his sight.

6 How much less pure is a mortal--who is only a maggot-- a descendant of Adam--who is only a worm!"

1 Then Job replied [to his friends],

2 "You have helped the person who has no power and saved the arm that isn't strong.

3 You have advised the person who has no wisdom and offered so much assistance.

4 To whom have you spoken [these] words, and whose spirit has spoken through you?

5 "The souls of the dead tremble beneath the water, and so do the creatures living there.

6 Sheol is naked in God's presence, and Abaddon has no clothing.

7 "He stretches out his heavens over empty space. He hangs the earth on nothing whatsoever.

8 He holds the water in his thick clouds, and the clouds don't [even] split under its [weight].

9 He covers his throne by spreading his cloud over it.

10 He marks the horizon on the surface of the water at the boundary where light meets dark.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished when he yells at them.

12 With his power he calmed the sea. With his insight he killed Rahab [the sea monster].

13 With his wind the sky was cleared. With his hand he stabbed the fleeing snake.

14 "These are only glimpses of what he does. We [only] hear a whisper of him! Who can understand the thunder of his power?"

1 Job continued his poems and said,

2 "I swear an oath by God, the one who has taken away my rights, by the Almighty, who has made my life bitter:

3 'As long as there is one breath [left] in me and God's breath fills my nostrils,

4 my lips will not say anything wrong, and my tongue will not mumble anything deceitful.'

5 It's unthinkable for me to admit that you are right. Until I breathe my last breath, I will never give up my claim of integrity.

6 I cling to my righteousness and won't let go. My conscience won't accuse me as long as I live.

7 "Let my enemy be [treated] like wicked people. Let anyone who attacks me be [treated] like unrighteous people.

8 After all, what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?

10 Can he be happy with the Almighty? Can he call on God at all times?

11 "I will teach you about God's power. I will not hide what the Almighty has done.

12 Certainly, you have all seen it. Why then do you chatter on about such nonsense?

13 This is what God has waiting for the wicked person, the inheritance that tyrants receive from the Almighty:

14 If he has many children, swords will kill them, and his descendants won't have enough food.

15 Those who survive him will be buried by a plague, and their widows won't cry [for them].

16 Though he collects silver like dust and piles up clothing like dirt,

17 righteous people will wear what he piles up, and the innocent will divide the silver [among themselves].

18 He builds his house like a moth, like a shack that a watchman makes.

19 He may go to bed rich, but he'll never be rich again. When he opens his eyes, nothing will be left.

20 Terrors overtake him like a flood. A windstorm snatches him away at night.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he's gone. It sweeps him from his place.

22 It hurls itself at him without mercy. He flees from its power.

23 It claps its hands over him. It whistles at him from his own place.

1 About that time King Herod devoted his attention to mistreating certain members of the church.

2 He had James, the brother of John, executed.

3 When he saw how this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread.

4 After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very hard to God for him.

6 The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison.

7 Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter's side, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At that moment the chains fell from Peter's hands.

8 The angel told him, "Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!" Peter did this. Then the angel told him, "Put your coat on, and follow me."

9 Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn't realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.

10 They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.

11 When Peter came to his senses, he said, "Now I'm sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people are expecting to happen to me."

12 When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered at her home and were praying.

13 Peter knocked on the door of the entryway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.

14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so happy that instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and reported, "Peter is standing at the door!"

15 The people told her, "You're crazy!" But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, "It has to be his angel."

16 But Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him.

17 Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, "Tell James and the other believers about this." Then he left and went somewhere else.

18 In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter.

19 Herod searched for Peter but couldn't find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while.

20 Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king's living quarters.)

21 The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them.

22 The people started shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"

23 Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.

24 But God's word continued to spread and win many followers.

25 After Barnabas and Saul delivered the contribution [to the leaders in Jerusalem], they returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem. They brought John Mark with them.