Evening Prayer + Readings Home + Last + Next
Click HERE for books/eBooks on Daily Office Readings w/ Questions
Monday
The First
Lesson
Ezra 7:1, 6-16, 25-28
1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of
Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son
of Hilkiah,
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in
the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and
the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of
the LORD his God upon him.
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the
priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and
the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the
seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up
from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he
to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD,
and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes
gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words
of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe
of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a
time.
13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and
of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of
their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors,
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law
of thy God which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors
have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation
is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the
province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people,
and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their
God which is in Jerusalem:
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine
hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people
that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God;
and teach ye them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law
of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether
it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods,
or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such
a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of
the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors,
and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened
as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together
out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
1st Lesson Questions -
Ezra 7:1,6-16,25-28. Do earthly authorities readily bless God's workers today, as they did in Ezra's time? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 11:1-18
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that
the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of
the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat
with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded
it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a
vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet,
let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered,
and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and
creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and
eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath
at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again
into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come
unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover
these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's
house:
13 And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which
stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon,
whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house
shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on
us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,
John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch
then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand
God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified
God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance
unto life.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Acts 11:1-18. Do I sometimes act as if I can withstand God? (V. 17) AM I acting that way in reference to something? RESOLVE.