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Friday
The First
Lesson
Esther 3:1-12
1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son
of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat
above all the princes that were with him.
2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate,
bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning
him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said
unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he
hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether
Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he
was a Jew.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence,
then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
had shown him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought
to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom
of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth
year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before
Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth
month, that is, the month Adar.
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces
of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither
keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's
profit to suffer them.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed:
and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of
those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into
the king's treasuries.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee,
the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day
of the first month, and there was written according to all that
Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors
that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people
of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every
people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was
it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
1st Lesson Questions -
What was Haman's sin? RESOLVE.
Does man misinterpret life, as the natives did Paul's snakebite? (V. 6) RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 28:1-15
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island
was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for
they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the
present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them
on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened
on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his
hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer,
whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth
not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit
they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead
suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no
harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he
was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the
island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us
three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of
a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed,
and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the
island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed,
they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium:
and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the Next
day
to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them
seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came
to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom
when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Does man misinterpret life, as the natives did Paul's snakebite? (V. 6) RESOLVE.