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Monday
The First
Lesson
Daniel 4:4-5, 10-18
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing
in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my
bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold
a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was
great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached
unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much,
and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow
under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof,
and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold,
a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut
off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit:
let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his
branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;
and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion
be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart
be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand
by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may
know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of
men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar,
declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise
men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation:
but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
1st Lesson Questions -
What's the point of Nebuchadnezzar's dream? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 22:30-23:11
30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore
he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and
commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear,
and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren,
I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him
to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited
wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest
me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high
priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler
of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and
the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren,
I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection
of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the
Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither
angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the
Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in
this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let
us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain,
fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them,
commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from
among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be
of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem,
so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
2nd Lesson Questions
Why did the Jews accuse Paul? Did Paul help the division between the Sadducees and Pharisees that occurred that day? Did he do it on purpose? RESOLVE.