The Book of Wisdom opens with an exhortation to rulers and judges of the earth to love righteousness and seek God with sincerity of heart. The author warns that wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin, establishing that wisdom is incompatible with wickedness and falsehood. The passage emphasizes that those who test God with perverse thoughts and lack faith will be unable to receive divine wisdom. The author explains that wisdom is a kindly spirit but will not free blasphemers from the consequences of their words, as God observes all human thoughts and actions. This introduction sets the foundation for understanding wisdom as both a divine gift and a moral force that requires righteousness and sincerity from those who would possess it.
[5] For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.
[6] For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. [7] For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.
In Antioch, a thriving center of early Christianity, the church has grown significantly since believers first arrived there following Stephen's martyrdom and subsequent persecution in Jerusalem. This congregation, which initially formed when Cypriots and Cyrenians preached to Greeks, has become a vital hub where disciples were first called Christians. Barnabas had earlier brought Saul from Tarsus to minister in Antioch, and together they taught for a year before traveling to Jerusalem to deliver famine relief. Having completed that mission and returned with John Mark, they now resume their work among this diverse, Spirit-filled community. The church in Antioch is poised to become the launching point for expanding the gospel message beyond its current boundaries into the broader Gentile world.
[1] Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
[4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [5] And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
John the Baptist has been baptizing at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where religious leaders from Jerusalem questioned him about his identity and mission. He declared he was not the Messiah but the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for one mightier than himself. The day after this interrogation, John sees Jesus approaching and makes his testimony about Him. John the Baptist is addressing the crowd gathered at the Jordan River, likely including his own disciples and possibly some of the religious authorities who had questioned him earlier.
[29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [30] This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ [31] I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
[32] And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. [33] I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ [34] And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Paul has introduced himself as an apostle set apart for the gospel of God, which concerns Jesus Christ and is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. He has expressed his eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome and declared that the righteousness of God is revealed through faith. Having established that the gospel brings salvation and reveals God's righteousness, Paul now transitions to explain why this gospel is necessary by addressing the universal human condition. He asserts that God's wrath is being revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth, setting the stage for his argument about humanity's need for divine intervention. Paul is addressing the believers in Rome, including both Jewish and Gentile Christians.
[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. [20] For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, [21] because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Professing to be wise, they became fools, [23] and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
[24] Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, [25] who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Jesus has recently delivered the Sermon on the Mount, teaching about the kingdom of heaven, righteousness, and God's law. After descending from the mountain, he cleansed a leper who approached him with faith, demonstrating his authority over disease and his willingness to heal those considered unclean. Jesus instructed the healed man to show himself to the priest and offer the prescribed sacrifice as a testimony. Following this miracle, Jesus enters Capernaum, a significant city in his Galilean ministry where he has established a base of operations. A Roman centurion approaches Jesus with a request concerning his paralyzed servant who is suffering terribly at home. The centurion is addressing Jesus.
[5] Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, [6] saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
[7] And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
[8] The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
[10] When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! [11] And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. [12] But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [13] Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Jesus has just been baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. John initially hesitated, feeling unworthy to baptize Jesus and suggesting that Jesus should baptize him instead, but Jesus insisted it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. As Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon him, and a voice from heaven declared him to be God's beloved Son. Immediately following this divine affirmation at his baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. There, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he became hungry and faced temptation from the devil.
[16] When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. [17] And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
[1] Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
After the floodwaters covered the earth for months, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters began to recede. The tops of mountains became visible on the first day of the tenth month. Noah and his family, along with all the animals, remained inside the ark as the waters continued to decrease. Forty days passed after the mountaintops appeared, prompting Noah to take action to assess the conditions outside the vessel.
[6] So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. [7] Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. [8] He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. [9] But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. [10] And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. [11] Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.