Evening Prayer + Readings Home + Last + Next
Click HERE for books/eBooks on Daily Office Readings w/ Questions
Saturday
The First
Lesson
1 Maccabees 1:1, 7-15
1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian,
who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king
of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead,
the first over Greece,
7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died.
8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.
9 And
after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their
sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the
earth.
10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed
Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage
at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh
year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded
many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen
that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have
had much sorrow.
12 So this device pleased them well.
13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they
went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances
of the heathen:
14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according
to the customs of the heathen:
15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant,
and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.
1st Lesson Questions -
Why did Alexanders officers all put on crowns (verse 9) after he died? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 15:22-35
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church,
to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief
men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles
and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which
are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from
us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying,
Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no
such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to
send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell
you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon
you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if
ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when
they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the
epistle:
31 Which
when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted
the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go
in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and
preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
2nd Lesson Questions -
The congregation rejoiced for the consolation. (V. 31) When I am exhorted, what's my response? RESOLVE.