Acts 24:10-27; Judges 21; Psalms 46

Acts 24:10-27

10 When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.

11 You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 And they didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues, or anywhere in the city.

13 Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me.

14 But I confess this to you: that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I worship my fathers' God, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

15 And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

16 I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.

17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,

18 and while I was doing this, some Jews from the province of Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.

19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me.

20 Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

21 or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, 'Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.' "

22 Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."

23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.

24 After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus.

25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you."

26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

27 After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.

Judges 21

1 The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah: "None of us will give his daughter to a Benjaminite in marriage."

2 So the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They wept loudly and bitterly,

3 and cried out, "Why, Lord God of Israel, has it occurred that one tribe is [missing] in Israel today?"

4 The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.

5 The Israelites asked, "Who of all the tribes of Israel didn't come to the Lord with the assembly?" For a great oath had been taken that anyone who had not come to the Lord at Mizpah would certainly be put to death.

6 But the Israelites had compassion on their brothers, the Benjaminites, and said, "Today a tribe has been cut off from Israel.

7 What should we do about wives for the survivors? We've sworn to the Lord not to give them any of our daughters as wives."

8 They asked, "Which city among the tribes of Israel didn't come to the Lord at Mizpah?" It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp and the assembly.

9 For when the people were counted, no one was there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.

10 The congregation sent 12,000 brave warriors there and commanded them: "Go and kill the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword, including women and children.

11 This is what you should do: Completely destroy every male, as well as every female who has slept with a man."

12 They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins, who had not had sexual relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

13 The whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjaminites who were at the rock of Rimmon.

14 Benjamin returned at that time, and Israel gave them the women they had kept alive from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough for them.

15 The people had compassion on Benjamin, because the Lord had made this gap in the tribes of Israel.

16 The elders of the congregation said, "What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"

17 They said, "There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

18 But we can't give them our daughters as wives." For the Israelites had sworn: "Anyone who gives a wife to a Benjaminite is cursed."

19 They also said, "Look, there's an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."

20 Then they commanded the Benjaminites: "Go and hide in the vineyards.

21 Watch, and when you see the young women of Shiloh come out to perform the dances, each of you leave the vineyards and catch a wife for yourself from the young women of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22 When their fathers or brothers come to us and protest, we will tell them, 'Show favor to them, since we did not get enough wives for each of them in the battle. You didn't actually give [the women] to them, so you are not guilty [of breaking your oath].' "

23 The Benjaminites did this and took the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and lived in them.

24 At that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and family. Each returned from there to his own inheritance.

25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted.

Psalms 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah

4 [There is] a river- its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

5 God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.

6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.

7 The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.

10 "Stop [your fighting]-and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."

11 The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah