My Notes – Day 2 / M’Cheyne Reading Plan
9th Day of Christmas
Reader’s Companion:
2 – Note how these verses are beautifully arranged to echo the opening verse (1:1) and add information to them. These accounts are complementary, not contradictory. Chapter 2 also adds to the “special-ness” of man that began in 1:26. Man there is made in God’s image, but here we learn that man is subservient to God. Verse 9 is a source of much discussion. What is the “knowledge of good and evil?” It may mean the consequences of what would happen if Adam disobeyed God’s commands. Man would have known good if he obeyed; he knew evil because he disobeyed. The chapter closes with the founding of the first home. Notice how everything is now good. This changes dramatically in chapter 3.
BibleRef:
Genesis 2 begins by describing the end of God’s week of creation. Chapter 1 described what God had created day by day, for six days. The first verses of chapter 2 explain the seventh day, in which God rested from His work.
The remainder of chapter 2 focuses more details on the creation of the first man, the garden God placed him in, and the work God gave him to do. Before man was created, there were no cultivated crops, and the land was watered by streams or mists rising up from the ground.
In this passage, God creates man, forming him out of the dust of the ground and breathing the “breath of life” into him. Man becomes a living being. God places man into His newly planted garden in the region of Eden, a garden with abundant fruit-bearing trees. Two trees in the middle of the garden stand out. They have names: The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
For all of the debates over which aspects of Genesis are meant to be literal, and which are meant to be symbolic, the Garden of Eden is not so difficult to interpret. The writer of Genesis clearly intends it to be understood as a real place in the real world. This portion of Scripture describes the river that runs out of it and divides into four separate rivers. Those rivers run through places that would have been especially familiar to Genesis’ first readers. They include the Tigris and Euphrates, rivers that still flow through the lands of Mesopotamia.
God places the man in the garden with specific work to do, such as maintaining the garden and naming the animals. God also issues a single, specific negative command: never eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or you will die.
This passage is also the first time when God recognizes that some aspect of His creation is not good. It’s not good for the man to be alone. There are no living things which complement Adam as the animals of the same kind correspond to each other. So God takes a rib from Adam and makes a helper and companion for him. Eve becomes Adam’s wife. This is a fascinating action by God, one that is rich in symbolism. God obviously could have created Eve from dust, as He did Adam, but chose instead to form her out of Adam’s own body.
For this reason, the closing verses tell us, men are to separate from their parents and stick to their wives, becoming one flesh with them.
Adam and Eve’s relationship was unique in all of history. When they met, no sin yet existed in the world or between them. They remained unashamed of anything, including their own nakedness. In their innocence, they had nothing to hide from God or from each other. In that way, they truly existed in paradise, one beyond just the plants and animals of a garden. Unfortunately, in chapter three, this ideal situation will be lost as a result of their choice to sin against God.
Reader’s Companion:
2 – This chapter is very straightforward. Verse 1 mentions Herod the Great, the first of many Herods in the New Testament. He was cruel, paranoid, and perhaps even insane. Note how the wise men did not visit the stable (as is often seen in various depictions) but “the house” (verse 11). The emphasis in this chapter is on Jesus’ fulfilling prophecy after prophecy, and God caring for the Child and His parents so that even as the devil tries to murder Jesus as an infant his every attempt is foiled. It is also possible that Matthew is answering the objection that Jesus came from Nazareth, when everyone knew the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. With this week’s reading we turn again to watch Jesus. Matthew wants us to see King Jesus. Let’s make sure in our reading that we are getting that, and most importantly, that we are submitting ourselves to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Bible Ref:
Jesus has been born to Mary, who is now married to Joseph, after the couple was informed of His miraculous birth by angelic messages (Matthew 1:18–25). Chapter 1 explained the genealogy and conception of Christ. Chapter 2 describes crucial moments in His infancy. Chapter 3 will resume the narrative after a long gap, picking back up when Jesus is an adult.
A group of wise men from the east arrives in Jerusalem, some time after Jesus is born. These men are labelled using the Greek term magoi, which in Persian and Babylonian culture referred to those who studied astronomy, prophecy, medicine, and religion—some also dabbled in sorcery and fortune telling. These particular wise men are on a quest, and what they seek is troubling news to King Herod: they look for someone “born king of the Jews.” The scholars have come in response to some astronomical sign, which they call “his star.” Though they are not Jewish, these men apparently studied ancient Jewish Scriptures, and so they began their search in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1–4).
King Herod summons local religious leaders and asks them where the Scriptures say the Christ—a term derived from the Hebrew word for Messiah—would be born. They know the Scriptures well and quickly tell Him that the Promised One will be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Herod is careful, but secretive, in asking the wise men when they first saw this sign. He then directs them to Bethlehem to find the child. In a blatant lie, he claims his intent is to worship this new king (Matthew 2:5–8).
Whether or not the wise men originally saw a comet, planet, or supernova, what they see next is all-but-certainly supernatural. They once again see a guiding star, this time moving south, guiding them directly. The men arrive at the home where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are staying in Bethlehem. Overjoyed, the wise men worship the child, presenting Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each of these gifts is practical and valuable, as well as carrying prophetic meaning. Despite Herod’s command, the men leave town secretly by an alternate route—they’ve been warned in a dream not to go back to the evil ruler (Matthew 2:9–12).
Once again, Joseph receives direction from God, through an angel, in a dream. He must take Jesus and Mary and go to Egypt to escape Herod’s plan to kill the child Jesus. In this context, “Egypt” means the territory outside of Herod’s authority, whose borders were a few day’s journey away. The emphasis of this command is on haste, not distance; the family must leave while Herod still has no idea who they are. They leave that night, settling for a time in Egyptian territory, waiting to be called back by the angel when Herod has died (Matthew 2:13–15).
Herod realizes the wise men have left the area without telling him where the Christ child is. Furious, Herod sends men to kill all male babies in Bethlehem, two years old and younger. This contingency was Herod’s reason to ask about the appearance of the wise men’s sign. Knowing when his rival was born narrowed down possible targets. Herod’s massacre aims to prevent the child from taking the throne from Herod and his sons. Herod doesn’t know that the child and family have already left town. Matthew connects the slaughter of the babies to a prophecy by Jeremiah about the weeping of Rachel for her children (Matthew 2:16–18).
After Herod dies, Joseph has two more dreams. First the angel tells him it is safe to return to Israel because those who wanted to kill Jesus are dead. When Joseph gets to Israel, he is concerned about the cruel and unpredictable son of Herod who now reigns over Judea. Through another dream, God sends Joseph and Mary to their hometown of Nazareth in the region of Galilee, ruled over by a more stable son of the Herod family. Just as Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem fulfilled prophecies about the birthplace of the Christ, His childhood in Nazareth fulfills another prophecy about the Messiah being known as a Nazarene (Matthew 2:19–23).
Reader’s Companion:
2 – Chapter 2 lists the names of the families returning. This list shows who is a true Israelite in contrast to the Samaritans in the north who give the Jews so much trouble. Note that priests of uncertain lineage could not serve until God could be consulted with Urim and Thummim (verse 62). We do not know exactly how Urim and Thummim were used but it is of value to see that God’s people didn’t act without being certain of His approval.
Grace & Truth:
2:1–70 God’s pilgrim people have names, and over 125 are mentioned in chapter 2. The names are repeated more or less verbatim in Nehemiah 7. Later generations read these names and traced their family line back through the turbulent days of exile and saw visible evidence that they were Abraham’s descendants. Most exiles stayed in Babylon, and we must not be too harsh in judging their motives for doing so. Ezra records 42,360 returning exiles (Ezr 2:64; cf. Ne 7:66), but the total number listed in Ezra 2 is 29,818, leaving a difference of 12,542. Perhaps the family names are incomplete. Another explanation is that the larger number includes the women and children, and since it would be easier for single men to leave Babylon, this might account for the fact that the number of men is double that of the women. A closer examination reveals 12 leaders: Sheshbazzar (1:11) plus the 11 mentioned in Ezra 2:2. A representative Israel returned. Ten percent of returnees were priests (vv. 36–39). They, after all, were born to serve in the temple—a temple they had never seen. It made sense that they would wish to work in the building they were born to be in. In addition, 74 Levites, helpers for the Levitical priests, returned (v. 40), as well as temple servants (vv. 43–54) and Solomon’s servants (vv. 55–57), many of whom have foreign names, suggesting their ancestors may have been prisoners of war (slaves). And some could not trace their genealogy (vv. 59–63), though they believed themselves to be priests. A later ceremony with the Urim and Thummim would assign their identity (v. 63).
Heads of households contributed generous monetary gifts of gold (approximately 565 pounds) and silver (over three tons), as well as priestly garments—all given “according to their ability” (v. 69; cf. 1Co 16:2; 2Co 8:12). Those who have experienced God’s grace should demonstrate generosity in giving. The seeming generosity in this instance is overshadowed by Haggai’s later observation that more than enough was withheld by some to build luxury houses for themselves (Hag 1:4).
The mention of male and female “singers” (Ezr 2:65–67) is a reminder that the primary reason for this return is worship in a rebuilt temple. To that extent, the return resembles the exodus (Ex 3:12). God desires to be worshiped. It is a central theme of Scripture.
Some of the pilgrims remained in Jerusalem after the return, and some went to their ancestral towns (Ezr 2:70).
Reader’s Companion:
2 – This is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. Note the key role the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures play in “birthing” the church. People get confused in verse 1 and fail to realize that “they” refers to the apostles (1:26). The apostles are the only ones who receive this special baptism, not the entire 120 assembled. Confusion reigns again in verse 4, where some try to make this ecstatic utterances. It is clearly foreign languages, as the people assembled can understand what is said (verse 11). Peter begins his sermon at nine o’clock in the morning (verse 15) and it is full of Scriptural references. Verse 34 again brings Psalm110 to the fore to point out Jesus’ superiority to David. Jesus is King and Messiah (verse 36b).
Bible Ref:
Acts 2 presents the end of the age of the Mosaic law and the beginning of the church age. Ever since the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt, God had dealt with His creation primarily through the law He gave Moses. As the Israelites abided by the law, God blessed them. When they broke the law, God judged them. Hundreds of years of history proved the Israelites were incapable of fully keeping the law. No one can be good enough to earn God’s favor. God must bridge the gap caused by sin in order to bestow His forgiveness.
This is why He sent His Son, Jesus. With His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that can stand in that gap caused by sin. His death fulfilled the requirement that sin always brings death and granted an “imputed” sinlessness on whoever believes Him (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Mosaic law has proven it cannot save, only Jesus can and will. Now it’s time to spread that good news.
Jesus provided the way of salvation. Yet His incarnation and immediate presence—one individual in one geographical region with a three-year ministry—is not the best way to spread the news to the world. For that, God chooses to rely on Jesus’ followers, but they will not be alone (John 16:7–11). The job is too big. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in each believer, equipping them for the job ahead. And so, as Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–11).
A little over a week after Jesus’ ascension, about 120 Jesus-followers wait together in Jerusalem. Apparently without warning, the Holy Spirit fills the house with a sound like a great wind and lands on each believer, giving them the ability to speak different languages. Jerusalem is filled with visitors who have come to celebrate Pentecost. They hear the different dialects and are astounded—how did Galileans get this ability? Some are curious; others are dismissive (Acts 2:1–13).
Peter, ever the spokesman but now enlightened by the Holy Spirit, addresses the crowd. The prophet Joel prophesied this moment (Joel 2:28–32). This is the “last days” when God will pour out His Spirit. This is the time of prophecies and visions and dreams. Jesus of Nazareth is revealed as the Jewish Messiah they’ve been waiting for. His miracles attest to the truth. He fits David’s prophecies (Psalm 16:8–11; 110:1). And these men standing with Peter are witnesses that Jesus died and rose again (Acts 2:14–36).
When the crowd realizes they are complicit in the murder of God’s Messiah, their reaction is immediate. They follow Peter’s guidance to repent of their sins, trust Jesus to forgive them, and agree to be baptized as a public admission of their new loyalty. In response to their faith, the Holy Spirit comes on them. In all, about three thousand make this commitment (Acts 2:37–41).
Many of the 120 who receive the Holy Spirit that morning have known each other for years, presumably some for their whole lives (Acts 1:12–15). By nightfall, about three thousand will join them. Many of the new believers have no real idea of who Jesus is beyond Peter’s quick sermon. So the infant church provides what’s needed: teaching about Jesus from the apostles, affirmation of the message through signs and wonders, community through joint meals, and a unity that extends even to personal property. In one day, the church is created (Acts 2:42–47).
The Seventh Day, God Rests
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
The Creation of Man and Woman
4 These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
5 When no bush of the field1 was yet in the land2 and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist3 was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat4 of it you shall surely die.”
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for5 him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed6 every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam7 there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made8 into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”9
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Footnotes
[1] 2:5 Or open country
[2] 2:5 Or earth; also verse 6
[3] 2:6 Or spring
[4] 2:17 Or when you eat
[5] 2:18 Or corresponding to; also verse 20
[6] 2:19 Or And out of the ground the Lord God formed
[7] 2:20 Or the man
[8] 2:22 Hebrew built
[9] 2:23 The Hebrew words for woman (ishshah) and man (ish) sound alike
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men1 from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose2 and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
The Flight to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Footnotes
[1] 2:1 Greek magi; also verses 7, 16
[2] 2:2 Or in the east; also verse 9
The Exiles Return
2 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.
40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics1 of gold, 5,000 minas2 of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel3 in their towns.
Footnotes
[1] 2:69 A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams
[2] 2:69 A mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram
[3] 2:70 Hebrew all Israel
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested1 on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.2 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
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 male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—23 this Jesus,3 delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe4 came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Footnotes
[1] 2:3 Or And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed among them, and rested
[2] 2:15 That is, 9 a.m.
[3] 2:23 Greek this one
[4] 2:43 Or fear
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Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945
January 2
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah (1874-1945) was the first Indian bishop in the Anglican Communion, serving as Bishop of Dornakal, known for his pioneering work in evangelism, indigenous church leadership, and Christian ecumenism in India.
- Born in 1874 in South India, Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah became the first Indian bishop of the Anglican Church in 1912.
- Founded two influential missionary societies: the Indian Missionary Society (1903) and the National Missionary Society of India (1905).
- Grew his diocese of Dornakal from 8,000 to over 200,000 Christians, focusing on evangelism among rural and marginalized communities.
- Championed indigenous leadership in the Indian church and worked tirelessly for Christian unity, playing a key role in the formation of the Church of South India.
- Authored several books on evangelism and Christian living, including the widely translated “Christian Giving” (1940).
- Died on January 1, 1945, leaving a legacy as a pioneering Indian Christian leader and evangelist.
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah was born on August 17, 1874, in Vellalanvillai, a small village in one of the most economically deprived areas of South India, now part of Andhra Pradesh. He was the son of Thomas Vedanayagam, an Anglican priest, and Ellen, a woman renowned for her deep love and understanding of the Holy Scriptures.
This humble beginning laid the foundation for Azariah’s future as a pioneering figure in the Indian Christian landscape. From an early age, Azariah demonstrated a profound commitment to evangelism and Christian service. At the remarkably young age of nineteen, he became a YMCA evangelist, and within a few years, he was appointed secretary of the organization throughout South India.
This early leadership role allowed Azariah to develop his vision for the future of Christianity in India, recognizing the critical need for indigenous leadership to foster the growth of the Church and bring ordinary Indians to Jesus Christ. Driven by this vision, Azariah played a pivotal role in establishing two significant missionary societies.
In 1903, he helped create the Tinnevelly-based Indian Missionary Society, and in December 1905, he co-founded the National Missionary Society of India, an all-India, Indian-led agency. These organizations were instrumental in promoting indigenous leadership and reducing the strong Western influences that pervaded the Church in India at the time. Azariah’s dedication to the Church led to his ordination as a priest in 1909, at the age of thirty-five.
His leadership qualities and vision for an Indian-led Church were quickly recognized, and just three years later, in December 1912, he was consecrated as the first Indian bishop of the Anglican Church in India. This historic event took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Calcutta, with eleven bishops of the Anglican Church in India participating in the liturgy. Azariah was appointed as the bishop of the newly created Diocese of Dornakal, a role that would define his legacy. As bishop, Azariah’s focus shifted from primary evangelism to the development of Indian clergy and the improvement of their educational standards.
He worked tirelessly to create an indigenous Indian church, incorporating Indian postures, poetry, and idioms into worship and practice. His efforts bore fruit, as evidenced by the significant increase in Indian clergy within his diocese. By 1924, the ordained leadership of the Diocese of Dornakal included 8 English-born priests and 53 Indian clergy. Throughout his episcopate, Azariah’s dedication to evangelism and church growth yielded remarkable results. When he began his tenure, there were approximately 50,000 Christians in his diocese. By the time of his death on January 1, 1945, this number had grown to an astounding 240,000. Beyond numerical growth, Azariah’s impact extended to various aspects of society. He established educational institutions, including the Dornakal Diocesan School for girls (later renamed Bishop Azariah High School for Girls) and Bishop Azariah College, the only college in the Diocese of Dornakal . These institutions served both Christians and non-Christians, furthering Azariah’s vision of an inclusive and educated Indian Church. Azariah was also a passionate advocate for ecumenism, recognizing the importance of a united Church for effective mission and evangelism. He led the Joint Committee on Church Union in South India, laying the groundwork for the merger of the Anglican Church in South India with other Protestant bodies. Although he did not live to see it, this vision was realized in 1947 with the formation of the Church of South India, a testament to his enduring legacy.
The Bishop and the Blessing: A Story from the Life of Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah
Bishop Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, visited a small village in his diocese. As they approached, an elderly woman emerged from her humble dwelling. She had never seen a white Archbishop before, and was struck by the sight of this important figure arriving in a grand car with a police escort. To everyone’s surprise, Archbishop Runcie bowed before the elderly villager. Without hesitation, the woman placed her hands on his head and offered a blessing.
Moved by this unexpected act of faith, the Archbishop was overcome with emotion. “Nobody has ever done this to me,” Runcie said, tears in his eyes. “I have laid my hands on many people. But this mother has laid her hands on me.”This simple yet profound moment exemplified Bishop Azariah’s lifelong mission – to cultivate an indigenous Indian church where the faith of ordinary people could flourish.
It revealed the deep spirituality he nurtured among his flock, where even the humblest villager felt empowered to bless an Archbishop. The incident also highlighted Azariah’s ability to bridge cultures, bringing together a high-ranking English cleric and a poor Indian woman in a touching display of mutual respect and shared faith.
“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'”
— Luke 10:2
