To Me every knee shall bow

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Sat 13Sep2026

Fri 04Sep2026

Psalm 84:1 - 89:52 (119 verses) WEB

Psalms Book IV:

Psalm 90:1 - 106:48 (333 verses) WEB

Psalms Book V:

Psalm 107:1 - 109:31 (87 verses) WEB

John 16:1 - 21:25 (197 verses) NIV

Sat 05Sep2026

Psalm 110:1 - 118:29 (112 verses) ESV

Psalm 119:1 - 176 (176 verses) WEB

Psalm 120:1 - 138:8 (165 verses) WEB

Acts 1:1 - 5:42 (178 verses) ESV

Sun 06Sep2026

Psalm 139:1 - 150:6 (161 verses) WEB

Proverbs 1:1 - 10:32 (288 verses) NIV

Acts 6:1 - 10:48 (206 verses) ESV

Mon 07Sep2026

Proverbs 11:1 - 21:31 (327 verses) NIV

Acts 11:1 - 20:38 (357 verses) ESV

Wed 09Sep2026

Ecclesiastes 1:1 - 12:14 (222 verses) JND

Song of Solomon 1:1 - 8:14 (117 verses) NWB

Romans 1:1 - 9:33 (257 verses) NET

Thu 10Sep2026

Isaiah 1:1 - 17:14 (344 verses) WEB

Romans 10:1 - 16:27 (176 verses) ESV

Fri 11Sep2026

Isaiah 18:1 - 34:17 (323 verses) BBE

1 Corinthians 1:1 - 6:20 (124 verses) NET

1 Corinthians 7:1 - 16:24 (313 verses) WEB

Sat 12Sep2026

Isaiah 35:1 - 51:23 (376 verses) WEB

2 Corinthians 1:1 - 13:14 (257 verses) ESV

Sun 13Sep2026

Isaiah 52:1 - 66:24 (249 verses) WEB

Galatians 1:1 - 6:18 (149 verses) ESV

Ephesians 1:1 - 6:24 (155 verses) ESV

ESV — English Standard Version
NET — New English Translation
BBE — Bible in Basic English
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
JND — JN Darby's Translation
WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress : 2026-09-13	OT	NT
Total No. of Verses	23,145	7,958
Finished reading	Isaiah	Ephesians
Finished No. of Verses	18,947	6,217
Completion	81.9 %	78.1 %

I have spent nine days of intensive readings of both the Old and New Testaments. At last, I am gradually catching up with lost time after several months of slow readings.

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Passage for Today

By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Isaiah 45:23

 

English Standard Version

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And there is none other name under heaven

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2025-05-22 Thu

2025-05-21 Wed

Deuteronomy 12:1 – 16:22 (124 verses) WEB

Acts 17:1 - 23：35 (246 verses) KJV

2025-05-22 Thu

Deuteronomy 17:1 – 22:30 (136 verses) WEB

Acts 24:1 – 28:31 (161 verses) KJV

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version

Overall Progress
OT = 5,543 / 23,145 verses (23.9 %)
NT = 4,786 / 7,957 verses (60.1 %)

I am beginning to read longer portions of the New Testament in order to finish the remaining 40% by the end of next month. Today I have reached the end of the Acts of the Apostles. I will be taking a long train journey afterwards and I'll continue with reading the Epistle to the Romans.

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Passage for Today

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
(Ps 118:22 Matt 21:42 Mark 12:10 Luke 20:17 Eph 2:20 1 Pet 2:7)
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:10 – 12

 

King James Version

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Beware lest you forget the LORD your God

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2025-05-20 Tue

2025-04-13 Sun

Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:29 (112 verses) NIV

2025-05-18 Sun

Acts 3:1 – 26 (26 verses) KJV

2025-05-19 Mon

Deuteronomy 4:1 – 6:25 (107 verses) WEB

Acts 4:1 – 10:48 (285 verses) KJV

2025-05-20 Tue

Deuteronomy 7:1 – 11:32 (129 verses) WEB

Acts 11:1 – 16:40 (216 verses) KJV

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 5,283/ 23,145 verses (22.8 %)
NT = 4,379/ 7,957 verses (55.0 %)

Bible readings in the month of April and most of May this year has been quite badly disrupted by a lot of travelling abroad. Whilst I still have another seven months until the end of the year to finish my seventh round of Old Testament reading, I shall have to read longer portions everyday to catch up and to complete my thirteenth cycle of New Testament reading by the end of June.

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Passage for Today

11 Beware lest you forget the LORD your God, in not keeping his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you today; 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;
14 then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; . . .
17 and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” 18 But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 8:11 – 14, 17 – 18

 

World English Bible

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A new commandment I give unto you

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2025-03-30 Sunday

2025-02-18 Tue

Numbers 15:1 - 23:30 (293 verses) WEB

John 9:1 - 12:50 (190 verses) KJV

2025-02-19 Wed

Numbers 24:1 - 27:65 (131 verses) WEB

John 13:1 - 15:27 (96 verses) KJV

2025-02-20 Thu

Numbers 28:1 - 32:42 (183 verses) WEB

John 16:1 - 17:26 (59 verses) KJV

2025-03-09 Sun

Numbers 33:1 - 36:13 (132 verses) NIV

John 18:1 - 21:25 (138 verses) NIV

2025-03-30 Sun

Acts 1:1 - 2:47 (73 verses) NIV

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 4,935 / 23,145 verses (21.3 %)
NT = 3,852 / 7,957 verses (48.4 %)

This month of February and March sees me finishing the book of Numbers, the Gospel according to John, and embarking on the initial chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage for Today

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34 – 35

 

King James Version

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Believers from Cyprus and Cyrene

OT

 

6th Cycle.

  

NT

 

12th Cycle.

  

2024-10-25 Fri

2024-10-23 Wed

Acts 10:1 – 20:38 (405 verses) NWB

2024-10-24 Thu

Acts 21:1 – 28:31 (266 verses) BBE

2024-10-25 Fri

Romans 1:1 – 11:36 (315 verses) NET

NWB — Noah Webster Bible
BBE — Bible in Basic English
NET — New English Translation

Overall Progress
OT = 22,558 / 23,145 verses (97.46 %)
NT = 5,101 / 7,957 verses (64.11 %)

I finished reading the Acts of the Apostles yesterday. This morning I began to read the Epistle of Paul to the Romans and I have covered the first eleven chapters.

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Passage for Today

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:20 – 21

 

World English Bible

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• 2023-02-05 The Believers from Cyprus and Cyrene
• 2022-12-01 Gentiles called by God
• 2022-02-18 Until the fulness of the Gentiles come in

God has raised, God has exalted, God has given

OT

 

6th Cycle.

  

NT

 

12th Cycle.

  

2024-10-22 Tue

2024-10-19 Sat

John 13:1 – 17:26 (155 verses) WEB

2024-10-20 Sun

John 18:1 – 21:25 (138 verses) NIV

2024-10-21 Mon

Acts 1:1 – 2:47 (73 verses) WEB

2024-10-22 Tue

Acts 3:1 – 9:43 (263 verses) JND

WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version
JND — J.N.Darby Translation

Overall Progress
OT = 22,558 / 23,145 verses (97.46 %)
NT = 4,115 / 7,957 verses (51.72 %)

As I continue with my 12th Cycle of New Testament readings, I have finished reading the Gospel of John two days ago. Yesterday I began reading the Acts of the Apostles, finishing chapter 9 today.

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Passage for Today

30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom ye have slain, having hanged on a cross.
31 Him has God exalted by his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.
32 And we are [his] witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which God has given to those that obey him.

Acts 5:30 – 32

 

J.N.Darby Translation

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• 2023-03-24 God raised His Anointed from the dead
• 2013-01-05 Did the Messiah raise himself?
• 2009-12-27 Iesus is the Son who is begotten by God
• 2010-01-19 Iesus is the Sacrifice, who is prepared by God
• 2010-01-19 Iesus is the Saviour, who was promised by God

The Goodness and Severity of God

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Saturday 15Jun2024

Sat 18May24

Judges 9:1 - 13:25 (155 verses) NWB

Acts 25:1 - 28:31 (134 verses) WNT

Sun 19May24

Judges 14:1 - 16:31 (71 verses) WEB

Romans 1:1 - 8:39 (225 verses) WNT

Thu 13Jun24

Judges 17:1 - 21:25 (147 verses) GNB

Romans 9:1 - 16:27 (208 verses) ESV

Fri 14Jun24

Ruth 1:1 - 4:22 (85 verses) GNB

1 Corinthians 1:1 - 9:27 (204 verses) NET

Sat 15Jun24

1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:36 (64 verses) WEB

1 Corinthians 10:1 - 11:34 (67 verses) NET

NWB — Noah Webster's Bible
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
WEB — World English Bible
GNB — Good News Bible
ESV — English Standard Version
NET — New English Translation

Over the past four weeks, I have finished reading the last twelve chapters of Judges, followed by the book of Ruth and two chapters from First Samuel. In my New Testament readings, I completed the last four chapters of Acts, the entire Epistle of Paul to the Romans, and the first eleven chapters of First Corinthians.

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Passage of the Day

See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Romans 11:22  World English Bible

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My thoughts for today is about the severity of God's punishment upon those refuse to believe Him and who go against his will. However, as Paul wrote about the unbelief of the Israelites in Romans 11:23,

"They also, if they don't continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."

— those who turn back from unbelief and obey the will of God can find grace in Him. I wrote my thoughts on this 15 years ago, from the account about King Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 10, posted in the link below —

• Rehoboam's mistake and his mitigation

Righteousness, Self-control, and Judgment

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Fri 17May24

Wed 15May24

Judges 1:1 - 3:31 (90 verses) ASV

Acts 19:1 - 20:38 (79 verses) JND

Fri 17May24

Judges 4:1 - 8:35 (155 verses) NASB

Acts 21:1 - 24:27 (132 verses) ESV

ASV — American Standard Version
JND — J.N.Darby's Translatioin
NASB — New American Standard Bible
ESB — English Standard Version

Overall Progress
OT = 6,523 / 23,145 verses (28.18 %)
NT = 4,651 / 7,957 verses (58.45 %)

Over the past three days, I have finished reading the first eight chapters of the Book of Judges. In the New Testament, I have reached chapter 24 of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage of the Day

24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you."
Acts 24:24 – 25  New American Standard Bible

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Two years ago, I wrote down my thoughts about the early disciples of the Lord being regarded as a heretical sect called the Way of the Nazarenesby their Jewish opponents —

• The Heretical Sect called Nazarenes

There arose another generation

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Wed 15May24

Wed 15May24

Judges 1:1 - 3:31 (90 verses) ASB

Acts 19:1 - 20:38 (79 verses) JND

ASB — American Standard Bible
JND — J.N.Darby's Translatioin

Overall Progress
OT = 6,368 / 23,145 verses (27.5 %)
NT = 4,519 / 7,957 verses (56.8 %)

Today, I read the first three chapters of the Book of Judges along with chapters 19 and 20 of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage of the Day

8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.
Judges 2:8 – 10  American Standard Version

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My thoughts for today can be found in the link below —

• A Tale of Two Generations

Bringing the Gospel from Cyprus and Cyrene

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Fri 10May24

Wed 08May24

Joshua 9:1 - 12:24 (117 verses) WEB

Acts 8:1 - 10:48 (131 verses) WEB

Thu 09May24

Joshua 13:1 - 19:38 (232 verses) NET

Acts 11:1 - 15:41 (176 verses) NKJV

Fri 10May24

Joshua 20:1 - 24:33 (137 verses) WEB

Acts 16:1 - 18:28 (102 verses) NIV

WEB — World English Bible
NET — New English Translation
NKJV — New King James Version
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 6,278 / 23,145 verses (27.12 %)
NT = 4,440 / 7,957 verses (55.80 %)

Today I finished reading the Book of Joshua together with chapters 16 to 18 of the Acts of the Apostles. Tomorrow I will begin reading Judges in the Old Testament.

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Passage of the Day

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:20 – 21  World English Bible

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My thoughts for today about the men of Cyprus and Cyrene bringing the Gospel of the Anointed to the Gentiles at Antioch can be found in the link below —

• Believers from Cyprus and Cyrene

Lord Iesus, take my spirit

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Tue 07May24

Tue 07May24

Joshua 5:1 - 8:35 (103 verses) NWB

Acts 6:1 - 7:60 (75 verses) BBE

NWB — Noah Webster Bible
BBE — Bible in Basic English

Overall Progress
OT = 5,792 / 23,145 verses (25.02 %)
NT = 4,031 / 7,957 verses (50.66 %)

Today I read four chapters from the book of Joshua and another two chapters from the Acts of the Apostles.

In my Overall Progress, I have covered one-quarter of the Old Testament and half of the New Testament.

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Passage of the Day

Today's passages are taken from the account of Stephen's testimony before the Sanhedrin in Acts chapter 7 leading to his martyrdom.

But he was full of the Holy Spirit, and looking up to heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand of God.
And he said, Now I see heaven open, and the Son of man at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55 – 56  Bible in Basic English

And Stephen, while he was being stoned, made prayer to God, saying, Lord Jesus, take my spirit.
And going down on his knees, he said in a loud voice, Lord, do not make them responsible for this sin. And when he had said this, he went to his rest.
Acts 7:59 – 60  Bible in Basic English

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My thoughts for today can be found in the link below —

• The Son of Man at the right hand of God

Thy Holy Servant Iesus

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Mon 06Apr24

Mon 06May24

Joshua 1:1 - 4:24 (83 verses) WEB

Acts 4:1 - 5:42 (79 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress
OT = 5,689 / 23,145 verses (24.58 %)
NT = 3,956 / 7,957 verses (49.72 %)

Today I begin my badly delayed reading of the book of Joshua, covering the first four chapters. Along with that, I read chapters 4 and 5 of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage of the Day

Acts 4:24 - 31  ASV  American Standard Version
And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,

O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
who by the Holy Spirit, [by] the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say,

Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth set themselves in array,
And the rulers were gathered together,
Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:

for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

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My thoughts for today from Acts chapter 4 can be found in the link below —

• Thy Holy Servant Iesus

The root of bitter poison

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Sun 05May24

Sun 05May24

Deuteronomy 29:1 - 34:12 (171 verses) NIV

Acts 1:1 - 3:26 (99 verses) NIV

NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 5,606 / 23,145 verses (24.22 %)
NT = 3,877 / 7,957 verses (48.72 %)

This morning I read through the remaining six chapters of Deuteronomy. I have also begun reading the Acts of the Apostles, covering the first three chapters.

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Passage of the Day

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations;
make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
Deuteronomy 29:18  New International Version

See to it that no-one falls short of the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15  New International Version

The Son of Man was given dominion, honour and kingdom

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Thu 20Jul23
Ezekiel 8:1 - 11:25 (76 verses) WEB
Acts 8:1 - 9:43 (83 verses) WEB

Fri 21Jul23
Ezekiel 12:1 - 16:63 (145 verses) WEB
Acts 10:1 - 11:30 (78 verses) WEB

Sat 22Jul23
Ezekiel 17:1 - 19:14 (70 verses) WEB
Acts 12:1 - 13:52 (76 verses) WEB

Sun 23Jul23
Ezekiel 20:1 - 24:27 (188 verses) NIV
Acts 14:1 - 16:40 (109 verses) NIV

Mon 24Jul23
Ezekiel 25:1 - 28:26 (100 verses) ASV
Acts 17:1 - 19:41 (103 verses) KJV

Tue 25Jul23
Ezekiel 29:1 - 33:33 (130 verses) JND
Acts 20:1 - 21:40 (78 verses) BBE

Wed 26Jul23
Ezekiel 34:1 - 36:38 (84 verses) WEB
Acts 22:1 - 23:35 (65 verses) WNT

Thu 27Jul23
Ezekiel 37:1 - 39:29 (80 verses) WEB
Acts 24:1 - 28:31 (161 verses) WNT

Fri 28Jul23
Ezekiel 40:1 - 43:27 (122 verses) YLT
Romans 1:1 - 2:29 (61 verses) NWB

Sat 29Jul23
Ezekiel 44:1 - 48:35 (138 verses) ASV
Romans 3:1 - 5:21 (77 verses) NET

Sun 30Jul23
Daniel 1:1 - 3:30 (100 verses) JND
Romans 6:1 - 8:39 (87 verses) BBE

Mon 31Jul23
Daniel 4:1 - 37 (37 verses) WEB
Daniel 5:1 - 7:28 (124 verses) LXXupd
Romans 9:1 - 11:36 (90 verses) NET

WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version
ASV — American Standard Version
KJV — King James Version
JND — J.N.Darby's Translation
BBE — Bible in Basic English
LXXupd — Septuagint Brenton updated
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
NET — New English Translation

Over the last twelve days, I have finished reading the book of Ezekiel followed by the first seven chapters of Daniel.

In the New Testament, I finished reading the Acts of the Apostles and went on to cover eleven chaptes of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.

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Passage of the Day

13 I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him.
14 And to him was given the dominion, and the honor, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 – 14  LXX Brenton Updated

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority
John 3:35  New English Translation

And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18  Bible in Basic English

He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
Ephesians 1:22  World English Bible

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, today let us remind ourselves that our Lord Iesus is given dominion and honour and the Kingdom by our God, the Ancient of Days. God has placed all things under the authority of our Lord Iesus, in heaven and on earth, and has made Iesus the head over all things in our Assembly.

Today, our Lord is seated at the right hand of God our Father in heaven. Angels and authorities and powers are being made subject to our Lord. Let us live under the authority and Lordship of Iesus the Son of God.

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The following are links to my observations about the Lord Iesus as the Son of God, posted on my devotional blog over a span of thirteen years:

• The Three Amens (May2009)
• Worship Him who sits on the Throne (Aug2014)
• Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation (Nov2020)
• I will be their God, They shall be my people (May2022)

This Iesus - He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Tue 11Jul23
Jeremiah 26:1 - 29:32 (95 verses) WEB
John 9:1 - 10:42 (83 verses) WEB

Wed 12Jul23
Jeremiah 30:1 - 32:44 (108 verses) WEB
John 11:1 - 57 (57 verses) KJV

Thu 13Jul23
Jeremiah 33:1 - 37:21 (120 verses) WEB
John 12:1 - 13:38 (88 verses) WEB

Fri 14Jul23
Jeremiah 38:1 - 41:18 (80 verses) NIV
Jeremiah 42:1 - 43:13 (35 verses) WEB
John 14:1 - 16:33 (91 verses) WEB

Sat 15Jul23
Jeremiah 44:1 - 48:47 (117 verses) GNB
John 17:1 - 18:40 (66 verses) NKJV

Sun 16Jul23
Jeremiah 49:1 - 52:34 (183 verses) WEB
John 19:1 - 21:25 (98 verses) WEB

Mon 17Jul23
Lamentations 1:1 - 3:66 (110 verses) NWB
Acts 1:1 - 2:47 (73 verses) WNT

Tue 18Jul23
Lamentations 4:1 - 5:22 (44 verses) WEB
Ezekiel 1:1 - 2:10 (38 verses) WEB
Acts 3:1 - 4:37 (63 verses) WEB

Wed 19Jul23
Ezekiel 3:1 - 7:27 (102 verses) WEB
Acts 5:1 - 7:60 (117 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version
NIV — New International Version
GNB — Good News Bible
NKJV — New King James Version
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
WNT — Weymouth New Testament

In my Old Testament readings, I finished the book of Jeremiah last Sunday and began reading Lamentations the following day. Yesterday I reached the end of Lamentations and went on to read the first seven chapters of the book of Ezekiel.

It was also on Sunday that I finished reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament, embarking on the Acts of the Apostles the next day. I have read up to Chapter 7 of Acts by today.

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Passage of the Day

23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
John 14:23 – 24  World English Bible

23 This Jesus, God has raised to life -- a fact to which all of us testify.
33 'Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, ''The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand
35 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.'
36 'Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified.'
Acts 2:32 – 36  Weymouth New Testament

We read from Acts chapter 2 the words of the Apostle Peter, speaking to the huge crowd of Jews from every part of the world (Acts 2:5, 9,10 WNT) telling them that God has raised "this Iesus" to life and that Iesus has received the promised Holy Spirit from God.

Particularly, in verse 33, Peter said that Iesus has poured out the Holy Spirit on all the 120 disciples together with him in the upper room on that Pentecost Day (Acts 1:15). As a result of that outpouring of the Spirit, the disciples spoke in various foreign languages — "which you see and hear" (Acts 2:33b) — a confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, like the Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room, let us also be full of the Holy Spirit. Let us walk in the Spirit as we also live in the Spirit. And let us seek the confirmation "which you see and hear" from the Lord.

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I wrote two blog posts on my devotional blog in 2013 about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit — oon the Jews in Jerusalem and on the Gentiles in Caesarea. And again last year, I wrote related observations in another two blog posts, all links below :

• The Promise that is for you, for your children and for all afar (May2013)
• So I knew (Sep2013)
• The Day of Shavuot (Feb2022)
• The day of outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles (Feb2022)

More than a month away from this blog

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  9th Cycle.

Fri 24Mar23
Deuteronomy 8:1 – 12:32 (135 verses) WEB
Acts 2:1 – 5:42 (152 verses) KJV

Sat 25Mar23
Deuteronomy 13:1 – 17:20 (112 verses) NIV
Acts 6:1 – 7:60 (75 verses) ASV

Sun 02Apr23
Acts 8:1 – 40 ( verses) ASV

Tue 04Apr23
Deuteronomy 18:1 – 21:23 (86 verses) NIV
Acts 9:1 – 43 (43 verses) ASV

Wed 05Apr23
Deuteronomy 22:1 – 30 (30 verses) NIV
Acts 10:1 – 48 (48 verses) BBE

Sun 09Apr23
Deuteronomy 23:1 – 25 (25 verses) WEB
Acts 11:1 – 13:52 (107 verses) BBE

Tue 25Apr23
Deuteronomy 24:1 – 34:12 (326 verses) ESV
Acts 14:1 – 15:41 (69 verses) JND

Mon 01May23
Joshua 1:1 – 4:24 (83 verses) WEB
Acts 16:1 – 20:38 (181 verses) KJV

Tue 02May23
Joshua 5:1 – 8:35 (103 verses) NIV
Acts 21:1 – 23:35 (105 verses) NKJV

I have been away from this blog for more than a month since the end of March. During this time, while I had been busy with some travelling and had also fallen ill in the later part of the month of April.

In my Old Testament readings, I finished Deuteronomy on 25Apr23 and began reading Joshua on 01May23. Meanwhile, I have read through twenty-three chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage of the Day

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts 17:24 - 31  King James Version

Twenty days of intermittent readings

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  9th Cycle.

Sun 05Mar23
Numbers 31:1 – 35:34 (215 verses) NKJV
John 12:1 – 15:27 (146 verses) NIV

Thu 09Mar23
Numbers 36:1 – 13 (13 verses) WEB
Deuteronomy 1:1 – 46 (46 verses) WEB
John 16:1 – 33 (33 verses) WNT

Sun 12Mar23
John 17:1 –18:40 (66 verses) WNT

Mon 20Mar23
Deuteronomy 2:1 – 4:49 (115 verses) WEB
John 19:1 – 21:25 (98 verses) WNT

Tue 21Mar
Deuteronomy 5:1 – 7:26 (84 verses) WEB

Thu 23Mar23
Acts 1:1 – 26 (26 verses) KJV

Fri 24Mar23
Deuteronomy 8:1 – 12:32 (135 verses) WEB
Acts 2:1 – 5:42 (152 verses) KJV

I have been reading the Bible intermittently over the past twenty days, partly because I was travelling again.

I finished reading the Book of Numbers two weeks ago on Thu 09Mar23, followed by finishing the Gospel of John four days ago, Mon 20Mar23.

Today, I have reached the end of Deuteronomy chapter 12 and Acts chapter 5.

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Passage of the Day

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:22 – 24  King James Version

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 2:32  King James Version

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Acts 3:13 - 15  King James Version

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:10  KJV

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:30 - 32  KJV

During my readings in the recent week, my attention is drawn to the words of the Apostles in the Book of Acts, reiterating their affirmation that God raised His Son Iesus from death.

I came away with the deep conviction that the Resurrection of Our Lord Iesus was the very act of God our Father in Heaven.

The Apostle Peter and the other Apostles told the High Priest and the Council in Acts 5:32 that they were witnesses of "these things" and that the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who obey Him, is also a witness too.

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Between 2010 and 2013, I have written my observations and thoughts, in three separate blog posts, on the teaching that God raised His Anointed One from the dead. Links below

• Did the Messiah raise himself from the dead? (Jan2013)
• Implicit allusions vs Explicit Assertions (Dec2012)
• Reasons why you should not believe in the Trinity (Sep2010)

Gentiles in the Kingdom of God

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Wed 30Nov22
Isaiah 1:1 - 10:34 NIV (230 verses)
Acts 8:1 - 18:28 NIV (408 verses)

Thu 01Dec22
Isaiah 11:1 - 30:33 NIV (366 verses)
Acts 19:1 - 28:31 NIV (345 verses)

It's the first day of December and there's only a month left for me to complete my ongoing cycles of OT and NT readings.

After encountering several delays over the past three months, I still have about a third of the OT (approx. 8,000 verses) and half of the NT (approx 4,000) verses to read before the year is over.

In order to finish reading 12,000 verses in a month, I will have to read about 400 to 500 verses a day from today onwards.

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Passage of the Day

Gentiles shall seek God.

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Isaiah 11:10  New King James Version

Gentiles called by the Name of God.

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
Acts 15:16 - 17  New King James Version

11 In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen,
and will rebuild the ruins of it,
and will set up the parts thereof that have been broken down,
and will build it up as in the ancient days:
12 that the remnant of men,
and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called,
may earnestly seek me,
saith the Lord who does all these things.
Amos 9:11 - 12  LXX Brenton

God sends His Messenger to be a light to the Gentiles.

47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 13:47  New King James Version

6 And he said to me, It is a great thing for thee to be called my servant,
to establish the tribes of Jacob,
and to recover the dispersion of Israel:
behold, I have given thee for the *covenant of a race,
for a light of the Gentiles,
that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6  LXX Brenton

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I have written several posts about the calling of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God, links as follows:

• Gentiles who bear the Name of God (24Nov13)
• The Day of Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles (10Feb22)
• Until the fulness of the Gentiles come in (18Feb22)

The Son of Man standing at the right hand of God

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Friday 25Nov22
Acts 1:1 - 4:37 GNB (136 verses)

Sun 27Nov22
Ecclesiastes 1:1 - 4:16 WEB (82 verses)

Mon 28Nov22
Ecclesiastes 5:1 - 6:12 GNB (32 verses)

Tue 29Nov22
Ecclesiastes 7:1 - 12:14 NKJV (108 verses)
Song of Solomon 1:1 - 8:14 NKJV(117 verses)
Acts 5:1 - 7:60 NKJV (117 verses)

It has been another weekend of slow readings, covering the short books of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in the Old Testament, along with the first seven chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.

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Passage of the Day

In my reading of Acts chapter 7 today, my attention is drawn to the scene when, at the end of Stephen's preaching and rebuke, the high priest and the council, along with all the accusers were "cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth" (verse 54), but Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit at that time.

Verses 55 and 56 tells us that Stephen looked up to heaven and saw a wonderful scene: Iesus standing at the right hand of God.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7:55 - 56  New King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, when we encounter people who slander us, who falsely accuse us of heresy, even some who are angry with us and hate us because of our faith in the Lord, let us remember to do what the martyr Stephen did. Let us look up to God our Father in Heaven, and remember that our Lord Iesus, the Son of Man, is at the right hand of our God.

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Twelve years ago, I wrote my thoughts on the teachings of the Apostles regarding Iesus the Mediator between Man and God.

• Jesus Our Mediator (26Apr2010)

The LORD's Angel: His Name is Incomprehensible

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

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Wednesday 03Aug2022
Judges 1:1 - 7:25 WEB (216 verses)

Thursday 04Aug2022
Acts 10:1 - 12:25 NWB (103 verses)

Wednesday 10Aug2022
Judges 8:1 - 35 WEB (35 verses)

Thursday 11Aug2022
Judges 9:1 - 21:25 World English Bible (373 verses)
Acts 13:1 - 28:31 Good News Bible (568 verses)

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My Bible reading has been slow and sporadic for the last nine days, and I have not been able to update this blog until today. In particular, there was a long gap between last Thursday 04August and yesterday 10August when I was busy with travelling and attending to urgent matters.

Since last Wednesday, I have finished reading the book of Judges in the Old Testament, and the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.

Passage of the day

In chapter 13 of the book of Judges we read about Manoah from the tribe of Dan whose wife was barren. One day, Manoah asked the Angel of the LORD who had appeared to him and his wife to assure them that they will have a child (Samson),

"What is your name?"

The Angel told Manoah that his name was "incomprehensible" (verse 18, WEB).

The KJV renders "incomprehensible" as "wonderful", while the GNB says, "It is a name of wonder".

17 Manoah said to the LORD’s angel, “What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honour you?”
18 The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible*?”
Judges 13:17 - 18  World English Bible (British Edition)

If the name of the Angel of the LORD is too wonderful to be mentioned and too diificult for us to comprehend, how much more wonderful and incomprehensible is the Name of the LORD Himself. This could be the reason why nobody knows with certainty the exact pronunciation of the Name of God written in the Tetragrammaton consonants "yod-hey-vav-hey" or YHWH.

Until today, the people of Israel will say "Adonai" (LORD) or "HaShem" (the Name) whenever they come across the Tetragrammaton in the TaNaKh (Torah, Neviim, Khetuvim: Law, Prophets, Writings).

In the New Testament, our Lord Iesus the Anointed One taught His disciples to call God, "the Father".

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One. The name of the Angel who appeared to Samson's parents was incomprehensible. It was too wonderful to be mentioned. Likewise, the Name of our God is a Name of Wonder, too wonderful for us to say, and too profound for us to comprehend.

Like our Lord Iesus, let us call God our Father in Heaven.