Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Nehemiah 9; Acts 3

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Nehemiah 7

1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were chosen.

2 I put my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the palace, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was honest and feared God more than most people.

3 I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut and bolt the doors. Appoint people who live in Jerusalem as guards, and put some at guard posts and some near their own houses."

4 The city was large and roomy, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

5 Then my God caused me to gather the important men, the leaders, and the common people so I could register them by families. I found the family history of those who had returned first. This is what I found written there:

6 These are the people of the area who returned from captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken away. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each going back to his own town.

7 These people returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. These are the people from Israel:

8 the descendants of Parosh -- 2,172;

9 the descendants of Shephatiah -- 372;

10 the descendants of Arah -- 652;

11 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (through the family of Jeshua and Joab) -- 2,818;

12 the descendants of Elam -- 1,254;

13 the descendants of Zattu -- 845;

14 the descendants of Zaccai -- 760;

15 the descendants of Binnui -- 648;

16 the descendants of Bebai -- 628;

17 the descendants of Azgad -- 2,322;

18 the descendants of Adonikam -- 667;

19 the descendants of Bigvai -- 2,067;

20 the descendants of Adin -- 655;

21 the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah) -- 98;

22 the descendants of Hashum -- 328;

23 the descendants of Bezai -- 324;

24 the descendants of Hariph -- 112;

25 the descendants of Gibeon -- 95.

26 These are the people from the towns of Bethlehem and Netophah -- 188;

27 of Anathoth -- 128;

28 of Beth Azmaveth -- 42;

29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth -- 743;

30 of Ramah and Geba -- 621;

31 of Micmash -- 122;

32 of Bethel and Ai -- 123;

33 of the other Nebo -- 52;

34 of the other Elam -- 1,254;

35 of Harim -- 320;

36 of Jericho -- 345;

37 of Lod, Hadid, and Ono -- 721;

38 of Senaah -- 3,930.

39 These are the priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) -- 973;

40 the descendants of Immer -- 1,052;

41 the descendants of Pashhur -- 1,247;

42 the descendants of Harim -- 1,017.

43 These are the Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the family of Hodaviah) -- 74.

44 These are the singers: the descendants of Asaph -- 148.

45 These are the gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai -- 138.

46 These are the Temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

47 Keros, Sia, Padon,

48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

52 Besai, Meunim, Nephussim,

53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

56 Neziah, and Hatipha.

57 These are the descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Amon.

60 The Temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon totaled 392 people.

61 Some people came to Jerusalem from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their ancestors came from Israel. Here are their names and their number:

62 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda -- 642.

63 And these priests could not prove that their ancestors came from Israel: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai. (He had married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead and was called by her family name.)

64 These people searched for their family records, but they could not find them. So they could not be priests, because they were thought to be unclean.

65 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the holy food until a priest settled this matter by using the Urim and Thummim.

66 The total number of those who returned was 42,360.

67 This is not counting their 7,337 male and female servants and the 245 male and female singers with them.

68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the family leaders gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury about 19 pounds of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 pieces of clothing for the priests.

71 Some of the family leaders gave about 375 pounds of gold and about 2,660 pounds of silver to the treasury for the work.

72 The total of what the other people gave was about 375 pounds of gold, about 2,250 pounds of silver, and 67 pieces of clothing for the priests.

73 So these people all settled in their own towns: the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and all the other people of Israel. By the seventh month the Israelites were settled in their own towns.

Nehemiah 8

1 All the people of Israel gathered together in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Teachings of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Teachings for the crowd. Men, women, and all who could listen and understand had gathered.

3 At the square by the Water Gate Ezra read the Teachings out loud from early morning until noon to the men, women, and everyone who could listen and understand. All the people listened carefully to the Book of the Teachings.

4 Ezra the teacher stood on a high wooden platform that had been built just for this time. On his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. And on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of everyone, because he was above them. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people held up their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 These Levites explained the Teachings to the people as they stood there: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah.

8 They read from the Book of the Teachings of God and explained what it meant so the people understood what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who were teaching said to all the people, "This is a holy day to the Lord your God. Don't be sad or cry." All the people had been crying as they listened to the words of the Teachings.

10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks. Send some to people who have none, because today is a holy day to the Lord. Don't be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong."

11 The Levites helped calm the people, saying, "Be quiet, because this is a holy day. Don't be sad."

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send some of their food to others, and to celebrate with great joy. They finally understood what they had been taught.

13 On the second day of the month, the leaders of all the families, the priests, and the Levites met with Ezra the teacher. They gathered to study the words of the Teachings.

14 This is what they found written in the Teachings: The Lord commanded through Moses that the people of Israel were to live in shelters during the feast of the seventh month.

15 The people were supposed to preach this message and spread it through all their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the mountains, and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palms, and shade trees. Make shelters with them, as it is written."

16 So the people went out and got tree branches. They built shelters on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the Temple, in the square by the Water Gate, and in the square next to the Gate of Ephraim.

17 The whole group that had come back from captivity built shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not done this since the time of Joshua son of Nun. And they were very happy.

18 Ezra read to them every day from the Book of the Teachings, from the first day to the last. The people of Israel celebrated the feast for seven days, and then on the eighth day the people gathered as the law said.

Nehemiah 9

1 On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the people of Israel gathered. They did not eat, and they wore rough cloth and put dust on their heads to show their sadness.

2 Those people whose ancestors were from Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and their ancestors' sins.

3 For a fourth of the day they stood where they were and read from the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.

4 These Levites were standing on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices.

5 Then these Levites spoke: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, "Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who lives forever and ever." "Blessed be your wonderful name. It is more wonderful than all blessing and praise.

6 You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything. The heavenly army worships you.

7 "You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur in Babylonia and named him Abraham.

8 You found him faithful to you, so you made an agreement with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You have kept your promise, because you do what is right.

9 "You saw our ancestors suffering in Egypt and heard them cry out at the Red Sea.

10 You did signs and miracles against the king of Egypt, and against all his officers and all his people, because you knew how proud they were. You became as famous as you are today.

11 You divided the sea in front of our ancestors; they walked through on dry ground. But you threw the people chasing them into the deep water, like a stone thrown into mighty waters.

12 You led our ancestors with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire at night. It lit the way they were supposed to go.

13 You came down to Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven to our ancestors. You gave them fair rules and true teachings, good orders and commands.

14 You told them about your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, orders, and teachings through your servant Moses.

15 When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought them water from the rock. You told them to enter and take over the land you had promised to give them.

16 "But our ancestors were proud and stubborn and did not obey your commands.

17 They refused to listen; they forgot the miracles you did for them. So they became stubborn and turned against you, choosing a leader to take them back to slavery. But you are a forgiving God. You are kind and full of mercy. You do not become angry quickly, and you have great love. So you did not leave them.

18 Our ancestors even made an idol of a calf for themselves. They said, 'This is your god, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.' They spoke against you.

19 "You have great mercy, so you did not leave them in the desert. The pillar of cloud guided them by day, and the pillar of fire led them at night, lighting the way they were to go.

20 You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You gave them manna to eat and water when they were thirsty.

21 You took care of them for forty years in the desert; they needed nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.

22 "You gave them kingdoms and nations; you gave them more land. and the country of Og king of Bashan.

23 You made their children as many as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their fathers to enter and take over.

24 So their children went into the land and took over. The Canaanites lived there, but you defeated them for our ancestors. You handed over to them the Canaanites, their kings, and the people of the land. Our ancestors could do what they wanted with them.

25 They captured strong, walled cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, wells that were already dug, vineyards, olive trees, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full and grew fat; they enjoyed your great goodness.

26 "But they were disobedient and turned against you and ignored your teachings. Your prophets warned them to come back to you, but they killed those prophets and spoke against you.

27 So you handed them over to their enemies, and their enemies treated them badly. But in this time of trouble our ancestors cried out to you, and you heard from heaven. You had great mercy and gave them saviors who saved them from the power of their enemies.

28 But as soon as they had rest, they again did what was evil. So you left them to their enemies who ruled over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven. Because of your mercy, you saved them again and again.

29 You warned them to return to your teachings, but they were proud and did not obey your commands. If someone obeys your laws, he will live, but they sinned against your laws. They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient.

30 You were patient with them for many years and warned them by your Spirit through the prophets, but they did not pay attention. So you handed them over to other countries.

31 But because your mercy is great, you did not kill them all or leave them. You are a kind and merciful God.

32 "And so, our God, you are the great and mighty and wonderful God. You keep your agreement of love. Do not let all our trouble seem unimportant to you. This trouble has come to us, to our kings and our leaders, to our priests and prophets, to our ancestors and all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

33 You have been fair in everything that has happened to us; you have been loyal, but we have been wicked.

34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your teachings; they did not pay attention to the commands and warnings you gave them.

35 Even when our ancestors were living in their kingdom, enjoying all the good things you had given them, enjoying the land that was fertile and full of room, they did not stop their evil ways.

36 "Look, we are slaves today in the land you gave our ancestors. They were to enjoy its fruit and its good things, but look, we are slaves here.

37 The land's great harvest belongs to the kings you have put over us because of our sins. Those kings rule over us and our cattle as they please, so we are in much trouble.

38 "Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing, and our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on it."

Acts 3

1 One day Peter and John went to the Temple at three o'clock, the time set each day for the afternoon prayer service.

2 There, at the Temple gate called Beautiful Gate, was a man who had been crippled all his life. Every day he was carried to this gate to beg for money from the people going into the Temple.

3 The man saw Peter and John going into the Temple and asked them for money.

4 Peter and John looked straight at him and said, "Look at us!"

5 The man looked at them, thinking they were going to give him some money.

6 But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold, but I do have something else I can give you. By the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, stand up and walk!"

7 Then Peter took the man's right hand and lifted him up. Immediately the man's feet and ankles became strong.

8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk. He went into the Temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.

10 All the people recognized him as the crippled man who always sat by the Beautiful Gate begging for money. Now they saw this same man walking and praising God, and they were amazed. They wondered how this could happen.

11 While the man was holding on to Peter and John, all the people were amazed and ran to them at Solomon's Porch.

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them, "People of Israel, why are you surprised? You are looking at us as if it were our own power or goodness that made this man walk.

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, gave glory to Jesus, his servant. But you handed him over to be killed. Pilate decided to let him go free, but you told Pilate you did not want Jesus.

14 You did not want the One who is holy and good but asked Pilate to give you a murderern instead.

15 And so you killed the One who gives life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses to this.

16 It was faith in Jesus that made this crippled man well. You can see this man, and you know him. He was made completely well because of trust in Jesus, and you all saw it happen!

17 "Brothers and sisters, I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders understood what you were doing.

18 God said through the prophets that his Christ would suffer and die. And now God has made these things come true in this way.

19 So you must change your hearts and lives! Come back to God, and he will forgive your sins. Then the Lord will send the time of rest.

20 And he will send Jesus, the One he chose to be the Christ.

21 But Jesus must stay in heaven until the time comes when all things will be made right again. God told about this time long ago when he spoke through his holy prophets.

22 Moses said, 'The Lord your God will give you a prophet like me, who is one of your own people. You must listen to everything he tells you.

23 Anyone who does not listen to that prophet will die, cut off from God's people.'

24 Samuel, and all the other prophets who spoke for God after Samuel, told about this time now.

25 You are descendants of the prophets. You have received the agreement God made with your ancestors. He said to your father Abraham, 'Through your descendants all the nations on the earth will be blessed.'

26 God has raised up his servant Jesus and sent him to you first to bless you by turning each of you away from doing evil."