Tuesday, August 29

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus

2and said to his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.'

3For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

4Because John had said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.'

5And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, 'Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter.'

9And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.

10So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

11And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.

23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

2for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

3Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;

4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

25And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.'

26'Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

28And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

29Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

30But God raised Him from the dead.

31He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.

32And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers.

33God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'

13And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.

14Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

15and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

16Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;

17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of Thunder';

18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;

19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

14Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, 'John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.'

15Others said, 'It is Elijah.' And others said, 'It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.'

16But when Herod heard, he said, 'This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!'

17For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.

18Because John had said to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.'

19Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

22And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, 'Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.'

23He also swore to her, 'Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.'

24So she went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask?' And she said, 'The head of John the Baptist!'

25Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'

26And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

30Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.