101 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak.
They are caught in the schemes that they devise. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.
He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh. 4 The wicked, in the pride of his face,
has no room in his thoughts for God. 5 His ways are prosperous at all times.
He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight.
As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them. 6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken.
For generations I shall have no trouble.” 7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression.
Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. 8 He lies in wait near the villages.
From ambushes, he murders the innocent.
His eyes are secretly set against the helpless. 9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless.
He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net. 10 The helpless are crushed.
They collapse.
They fall under his strength. 11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten.
He hides his face.
He will never see it.”
12 Arise, Yahweh!
God, lift up your hand!
Don’t forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked person condemn God,
and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?” 14 But you do see trouble and grief.
You consider it to take it into your hand.
You help the victim and the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked.
As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none. 16 Yahweh is King forever and ever!
The nations will perish out of his land. 17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble.
You will prepare their heart.
You will cause your ear to hear, 18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
111 In Yahweh, I take refuge.
How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain!” 2 For, behold, the wicked bend their bows.
They set their arrows on the strings,
that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4 Yahweh is in his holy temple.
Yahweh is on his throne in heaven.
His eyes observe.
His eyes examine the children of men. 5 Yahweh examines the righteous,
but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates. 6 On the wicked he will rain blazing coals;
fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For Yahweh is righteous.
He loves righteousness.
The upright shall see his face.
121 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases.
For the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 Everyone lies to his neighbor.
They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart. 3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts, 4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail.
Our lips are our own.
Who is lord over us?” 5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise,” says Yahweh;
“I will set him in safety from those who malign him.” 6 The words of Yahweh are flawless words,
as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times. 7 You will keep them, Yahweh.
You will preserve them from this generation forever. 8 The wicked walk on every side,
when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
191 It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?”
They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. 7 They were about twelve men in all.
8 He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.
13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. 15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. [1] 20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
(Read Acts 19:1-7)
Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious persons, who looked to Jesus as the Messiah. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit. But they spake as ready to welcome the notice of it. Paul shows them that John never design that those he baptized should rest there, but told them that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. They thankfully accepted the discovery, and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost came upon them in a surprising, overpowering manner; they spake with tongues, and prophesied, as the apostles and the first Gentile coverts did. Though we do not now expect miraculous powers, yet all who profess to be disciples of Christ, should be called on to examine whether they have received the seal of the Holy Ghost, in his sanctifying influences, to the sincerity of their faith. Many seem not to have heard that there is a Holy Ghost, and many deem all that is spoken concerning his graces and comforts, to be delusion. Of such it may properly be inquired, "Unto what, then, were ye baptized?" for they evidently know not the meaning of that outward sign on which they place great dependence.
(Read Acts 19:8-12)
When arguments and persuasions only harden men in unbelief and blasphemy, we must separate ourselves and others from such unholy company. God was pleased to confirm the teaching of these holy men of old, that if their hearers believed them not, they might believe the works.
(Read Acts 19:13-20)
It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case requires it. Surely if the word of God prevailed among us, many lewd, infidel, and wicked books would be burned by their possessors. Will not these Ephesian converts rise up in judgement against professors, who traffic in such works for the sake of gain, or allow themselves to possess them? If we desire to be in earnest in the great work of salvation, every pursuit and enjoyment must be given up which hinders the effect of the gospel upon the mind, or loosens its hold upon the heart.
