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Friday
The First
Lesson
Daniel 5:10-16
10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his
lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said,
O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor
let thy countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the
holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding
and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom
the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father,
made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving
of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the
interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake
and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the
children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought
out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is
in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom
is found in thee.
15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in
before me, that they should read this writing, and make known
unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the
interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations,
and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and
make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed
with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt
be the third ruler in the kingdom.
1st Lesson Questions -
Was Belshazzar trying to bribe Daniel? Is that still how people "buy" other's good words? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 24:24-25:12
24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla,
which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning
the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment
to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time;
when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul,
that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener,
and communed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room:
and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days
he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him
against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him
to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea,
and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down
with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went
down unto Caesarea; and the Next
day sitting on the judgment
seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem
stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against
Paul, which they could not prove.
8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the
Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have
I offended any thing at all.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul,
and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of
these things before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I
ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou
very well knowest.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy
of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these
things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them.
I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered,
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Acts 24:24-25:12. Why did Felix hope that Paul would give him money? RESOLVE.