Wisdom of Solomon 10
Wisdom in History: Adam
1 Wisdom took care of the first-formed father of the world When he alone was created; And she delivered him from his transgression†
2 And gave him strength to rule all things.
Cain
3 But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his wrath, He perished in anger for murdering his brother.
Noah
4 When the earth was flooded because of him, Again wisdom saved it And piloted the righteous man by a cheap piece of wood.
Abraham
5 Also when the nations in evil concord were confused, Wisdom knew the righteous man And preserved him blameless before God, And kept him strong in the time of his affection for his child.
Lot
6 Wisdom rescued a righteous man When the ungodly were perishing, For he escaped the fire that descended on the five cities,
7 Concerning which a testimony still remains: A barren land continually blackened with smoke, Trees bearing fruit which does not ripen in season, And a pillar of salt standing as a monument To an unbelieving soul.†
8 For since they passed by wisdom, They not only were injured by not knowing good things, But also left behind for the living a memorial of their folly, So they could not forget their fall.
9 Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her.
Jacob
10 She guided a righteous man on straight paths When he fled from his brother’s wrath. She showed him the kingdom of God And gave him knowledge of holy things. She prospered him in hardships And increased the fruit of his labors.†
11 When they dishonored him in their covetousness, She stood by him and made him rich.
12 She protected him from his enemies, Kept him safe from those who plotted against him, And arbitrated a strong contest for him, So he might know that godliness is more powerful than anything.
Joseph
13 When a righteous man was sold, Wisdom did not abandon him, But delivered him from sin.†
14 She went down with him into a pit, And she did not leave him in chains Until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom And authority over those who tyrannized him. She showed those who blamed him to be lying And gave him everlasting glory.
Moses
15 She delivered a holy people and a blameless seed From a nation of oppressors.
16 She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord And opposed fearful kings with signs and wonders.
17 She gave to holy men the reward of their labors. She guided them in a marvelous way And became for them a shelter by day And a flame of stars by night.†
18 She carried them across the Red Sea And led them through deep water;
19 But she drowned their enemies And cast them up from the depth of the abyss.
20 Therefore the righteous stripped the ungodly, And they sang, O Lord, to Your holy name And praised with one accord Your defending hand;
21 Because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb And made the tongues of infants speak clearly.†
Psalms 145
1 Alleluia; of Aggeus and Zacharias. †Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 I shall praise the Lord while I live; I shall sing to my God as long as I exist.
3 Do not trust in rulers and in the sons of men, In whom there is no salvation.
4 His breath shall go out of him, and he shall return to his earth; On that day all his thoughts shall perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob; His hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea and everything in them, Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the wronged, Who provides food for the hungry. The Lord frees those bound.
8 The Lord restores those broken down. The Lord gives wisdom to the blind. The Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord keeps watch over resident aliens. He shall adopt the orphan and the widow, But He shall destroy the way of sinners.
10 The Lord shall reign forever: Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Proverbs of Solomon 31
6 Give strong drink to those in sorrow, And wine to drink for those in pain,
7 So they may forget their poverty And no longer remember their grief.
8 Open your mouth for the word of God, And judge all men fairly;
9 Open your mouth and judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and helpless.
Acts 8
The First General Persecution
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.†
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
The Church in Samaria
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.†
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,†
10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
The Samaritan Pentecost
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,†
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.†
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.†
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.