11 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah . Now it happened in the month Chislev , in the twentieth year , while I was in Susa the [1]capitol , 2 that Hanani , one of my brothers , and [2]some men from Judah came ; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity , and about Jerusalem . 3 They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach , and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire ." 4 When I heard these words , I sat down and wept and mourned for days ; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven .
5 I said , "I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven , the great and awesome God , who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments , 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now , day and night , on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants , confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned . 7 " We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments , nor the statutes , nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses . 8 "Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses , saying , ' If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples ; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens , I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where e I have chosen to cause My name to dwell .' 10 " They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand . 11 "O Lord , I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [3]revere Your name , and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man ." Now I was the cupbearer to the king .
21 And it came about in the month Nisan , in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes , that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king . Now I had not been sad in his presence . 2 So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick ? This is nothing but sadness of heart ." Then I was very much afraid . 3 I said to the king , " Let the king live forever . Why should my face not be sad when the city , the place of my fathers' tombs , lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire ?" 4 Then the king said to me, "What would you request ?" So I prayed to the God of heaven . 5 I said to the king , "If it please the king , and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah , to the city of my fathers' tombs , that I may rebuild it." 6 Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long e will your journey be, and when will you return ?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time . 7 And I said to the king , "If it please the king , let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River , that they may allow me to pass through until e I come to Judah , 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest , that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple , for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go ." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.
9 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters . Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen . 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very e displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel .
11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days . 12 And I arose in the night , I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except e the animal on which I was riding . 13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate , inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire . 14 Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool , but there was no place for my mount to pass . 15 So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall . Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned . 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done ; nor had I as yet told the Jews , the priests , the nobles , the officials or the rest who did the work . 17 Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire . Come , let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach ." 18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said , "Let us arise and build ." So they put their hands to the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official , and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said , "What is this thing you are doing ? Are you rebelling against the king ?" 20 So I answered them and said to them, " The God of heaven will give us success ; therefore we His servants will arise and build , but you have no portion , right or memorial in Jerusalem ."
31 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate ; they consecrated it and hung its doors . They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel . 2 Next to him the men of Jericho built , and next e to them Zaccur the son of Imri built . 3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate ; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars . 4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs . And next e to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs . And next e to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs . 5 Moreover, next e to him the Tekoites made repairs , but their nobles did not support e the work of their masters . 6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate ; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars . 7 Next e to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite , the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah , also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River . 8 Next e to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs . And next e to him Hananiah , one of the perfumers , made repairs , and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall . 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur , the official of half the district of Jerusalem , made repairs . 10 Next e to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house . And next e to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs . 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of Furnaces . 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh , the official of half the district of Jerusalem , made repairs , he and his daughters . 13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate . They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars , and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate . 14 Malchijah the son of Rechab , the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate . He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars . 15 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh , the official of the district of Mizpah , repaired the Fountain Gate . He built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars , and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king's garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David . 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk , official of half the district of Beth-zur , made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David , and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men . 17 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani . Next e to him Hashabiah , the official of half the district of Keilah , carried out repairs for his district . 18 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad , official of the other half of the district of Keilah . 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua , the official of Mizpah , repaired another section in front of the ascent of the armory at the Angle . 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section , from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest . 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section , from the doorway of Eliashib's house even as far as the end of his house . 22 After him the priests , the men of the valley , carried out repairs . 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house . After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah , son of Ananiah , carried out repairs beside his house . 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section , from the house of Azariah as far as the Angle and as far as the corner . 25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king , which is by the court of the guard . After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs. 26 The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower . 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel . 28 Above e the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs , each in front of his house . 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house . And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah , the keeper of the East Gate , carried out repairs . 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah , and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph , repaired another section . After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters . 31 After him Malchijah , one of the goldsmiths , carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants , in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner . 32 Between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out repairs .
21 When the day of Pentecost had come , they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind , and it filled the whole house where they were sitting . 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues , as the Spirit was giving them utterance .
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem , devout men from every nation under heaven . 6 And when this sound occurred , the crowd came together , and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language . 7 They were amazed and astonished , saying , "Why , are not all these who are speaking Galileans ? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born ? 9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites , and residents of Mesopotamia , Judea and Cappadocia , Pontus and Asia , 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia , Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene , and visitors from Rome , both Jews and proselytes , 11 Cretans and Arabs -we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God ." 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity , saying to one another , "What does this mean e ?" 13 But others were mocking and saying , " They are full of sweet wine ."
14 But Peter , taking his stand with the eleven , raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem , let this be known to you and give heed to my words . 15 "For these men are not drunk , as you suppose , for it is only the third hour of the day ; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel : 17 ' AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS ,' God says , 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND ; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY , AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS , AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS ; 18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES , BOTH MEN AND WOMEN , I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy . 19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW , BLOOD , AND FIRE , AND VAPOR OF SMOKE . 20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD , BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE Lord SHALL COME . 21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE Lord WILL BE SAVED .'
(Read Acts 2:1-4)
We cannot forget how often, while their Master was with them there were strifes among the disciples which should be the greatest; but now all these strifes were at an end. They had prayed more together of late. Would we have the Spirit poured out upon us from on high, let us be all of one accord. And notwithstanding differences of sentiments and interests, as there were among those disciples, let us agree to love one another; for where brethren dwell together in unity, there the Lord commands his blessing. A rushing mighty wind came with great force. This was to signify the powerful influences and working of the Spirit of God upon the minds of men, and thereby upon the world. Thus the convictions of the Spirit make way for his comforts; and the rough blasts of that blessed wind, prepare the soul for its soft and gentle gales. There was an appearance of something like flaming fire, lighting on every one of them, according to John Baptist's saying concerning Christ; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. The Spirit, like fire, melts the heart, burns up the dross, and kindles pious and devout affections in the soul; in which, as in the fire on the altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than before. They were filled with the graces of the Spirit, and more than ever under his sanctifying influences; more weaned from this world, and better acquainted with the other. They were more filled with the comforts of the Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the love of Christ and the hope of heaven: in it all their griefs and fears were swallowed up. They were filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost; they had miraculous powers for the furtherance of the gospel. They spake, not from previous though or meditation, but as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Read Acts 2:5-13)
The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God.
(Read Acts 2:14-21)
Peter's sermon shows that he was thoroughly recovered from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the Divine favour; for he who had denied Christ, now boldly confessed him. His account of the miraculous pouring forth of the Spirit, was designed to awaken the hearers to embrace the faith of Christ, and to join themselves to his church. It was the fulfilling the Scripture, and the fruit of Christ's resurrection and ascension, and proof of both. Though Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake with tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance, yet he did not think to set aside the Scriptures. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bible; and the Spirit is given, not to do away the Scriptures, but to enable us to understand, approve, and obey them. Assuredly none will escape the condemnation of the great day, except those who call upon the name of the Lord, in and through his Son Jesus Christ, as the Saviour of sinners, and the Judge of all mankind.
(Read Acts 2:22-36)
From this gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter preaches unto them Jesus: and here is the history of Christ. Here is an account of his death and sufferings, which they witnessed but a few weeks before. His death is considered as God's act; and of wonderful grace and wisdom. Thus Divine justice must be satisfied, God and man brought together again, and Christ himself glorified, according to an eternal counsel, which could not be altered. And as the people's act; in them it was an act of awful sin and folly. Christ's resurrection did away the reproach of his death; Peter speaks largely upon this. Christ was God's Holy One, sanctified and set apart to his service in the work of redemption. His death and sufferings should be, not to him only, but to all his, the entrance to a blessed life for evermore. This event had taken place as foretold, and the apostles were witnesses. Nor did the resurrection rest upon this alone; Christ had poured upon his disciples the miraculous gifts and Divine influences, of which they witnessed the effects. Through the Saviour, the ways of life are made known; and we are encouraged to expect God's presence, and his favour for evermore. All this springs from assured belief that Jesus is the Lord, and the anointed Saviour.
(Read Acts 2:37-41)
From the first delivery of that Divine message, it appeared that there was Divine power going with it; and thousands were brought to the obedience of faith. But neither Peter's words, nor the miracle they witnessed, could have produced such effects, had not the Holy Spirit been given. Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricked to the heart for sin, cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. The apostle exhorted them to repent of their sins, and openly to avow their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, by being baptized in his name. Thus professing their faith in Him, they would receive remission of their sins, and partake of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. To separate from wicked people, is the only way to save ourselves from them. Those who repent of their sins, and give up themselves to Jesus Christ, must prove their sincerity by breaking off from the wicked. We must save ourselves from them; which denotes avoiding them with dread and holy fear. By God's grace three thousand persons accepted the gospel invitation. There can be no doubt that the gift of the Holy Ghost, which they all received, and from which no true believer has ever been shut out, was that Spirit of adoption, that converting, guiding, sanctifying grace, which is bestowed upon all the members of the family of our heavenly Father. Repentance and remission of sins are still preached to the chief of sinners, in the Redeemer's name; still the Holy Spirit seals the blessing on the believer's heart; still the encouraging promises are to us and our children; and still the blessings are offered to all that are afar off.
(Read Acts 2:42-47)
In these verses we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it; its state of infancy indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence. They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in piety and devotion; for Christianity, when admitted in the power of it, will dispose the soul to communion with God in all those ways wherein he has appointed us to meet him, and has promised to meet us. The greatness of the event raised them above the world, and the Holy Ghost filled them with such love, as made every one to be to another as to himself, and so made all things common, not by destroying property, but doing away selfishness, and causing charity. And God who moved them to it, knew that they were quickly to be driven from their possessions in Judea. The Lord, from day to day, inclined the hearts of more to embrace the gospel; not merely professors, but such as were actually brought into a state of acceptance with God, being made partakers of regenerating grace. Those whom God has designed for eternal salvation, shall be effectually brought to Christ, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of his glory.
