Read Scripture In A Year: April 30

Passage 1: Deuteronomy 17

(Deu 17:1) Thou shalt offer vnto the Lord thy God no bullocke nor sheepe wherein is blemish or any euill fauoured thing: for that is an abomination vnto the Lord thy God.

(Notes Reference) Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God [any] bullock, or sheep, wherein is (a) blemish, [or] any evilfavouredness: for that [is] an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

(a) You shall not serve God for selfish means as the hypocrites do.

(Deu 17:2) If there be founde among you in any of thy cities, which the Lord thy God giueth thee, man or woman that hath wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his couenant,

(Notes Reference) If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or (b) woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

(b) Showing that the crime cannot be excused by the frailty of the person.

(Deu 17:3) And hath gone and serued other gods, and worshipped them: as the sunne, or the moone, or any of the hoste of heauen, which I haue not commanded,

(Notes Reference) And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not (c) commanded;

(Deu 17:4) And it be tolde vnto thee, and thou hast heard it, then shalt thou inquire diligently: and if it be true, and the thing certaine, that such abomination is wrought in Israel,

(Deu 17:5) Then shalt thou bring foorth that man, or that woman (which haue committed that wicked thing) vnto thy gates, whether it be man or woman, and shalt stone them with stones, til they die.

(Deu 17:6) At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he that is woorthie of death, die: but at the mouth of one witnesse, he shall not die.

(Deu 17:7) The handes of the witnesses shall be first vpon him, to kill him: and afterward the hands of all the people: so thou shalt take the wicked away from among you.

(Notes Reference) The hands of the (d) witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the (e) people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

(d) By which they declared that they testify the truth.

(e) To signify a common consent to maintain God's honour and true religion.

(Deu 17:8) If there rise a matter too harde for thee in iudgement betweene blood and blood, betweene plea and plea, betweene plague and plague, in the matters of controuersie within thy gates, then shalt thou arise, and goe vp vnto the place which the Lord thy God shall chuse,

(Deu 17:9) And thou shalt come vnto the Priestes of the Leuites, and vnto the iudge that shall be in those daies, and aske, and they shall shewe thee the sentence of iudgement,

(Notes Reference) And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the (f) judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

(f) Who will sentence as the priests counsel him by the Law of God.

(Deu 17:10) And thou shalt do according to that thing which they of that place (which the Lord hath chosen) shewe thee, and thou shalt obserue to doe according to all that they informe thee.

(Deu 17:11) According to the Lawe, which they shall teach thee, and according to the iudgement which they shall tell thee, shalt thou doe: thou shalt not decline from the thing which they shall shew thee, neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

(Notes Reference) According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, (g) thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, [to] the right hand, nor [to] the left.

(g) You shall obey their sentence that the controversy may have an end.

(Deu 17:12) And that man that wil doe presumptuously, not hearkening vnto the Priest (that standeth before the Lord thy God to minister there) or vnto the iudge, that man shall die, and thou shalt take away euill from Israel.

(Notes Reference) And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to (h) minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

(h) So long as he is the true minister of God, and pronounces according to his word.

(Deu 17:13) So all the people shall heare and feare, and doe no more presumptuously.

(Deu 17:14) Whe thou shalt come vnto ye land which the Lord thy God giueth thee, and shalt possesse it, and dwell therein, if thou say, I will set a King ouer me, like as all the nations that are about me,

(Deu 17:15) Then thou shalt make him King ouer thee, whome the Lord thy God shall chuse: from among thy brethren shalt thou make a King ouer thee: thou shalt not set a stranger ouer thee, which is not thy brother.

(Notes Reference) Thou shalt in any wise set [him] king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: [one] from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a (i) stranger over thee, which [is] not thy brother.

(i) Who is not from your nation, lest he change true religion into idolatry, and bring you to slavery.

(Deu 17:16) In any wise he shall not prepare him many horses, nor bring the people againe to Egypt, for to encrease the number of horses, seeing the Lord hath sayd vnto you, Ye shall henceforth goe no more againe that way.

(Notes Reference) But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to (k) Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

(k) To avenge their injuries and to take their best horses from them; (1Ki_10:28).

(Deu 17:17) Neither shall hee take him many wiues, lest his heart turne away, neither shall he gather him much siluer and golde.

(Notes Reference) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart (l) turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

(l) From the Law of God.

(Deu 17:18) And when he shall sit vpon the throne of his kingdo, then shall he write him this Law repeted in a booke, by the Priests of the Leuites.

(Notes Reference) And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this (m) law in a book out of [that which is] before the (n) priests the Levites:

(m) Meaning, Deuteronomy.

(n) He shall cause it to be written by them, or he shall write it by their example.

(Deu 17:19) And it shall be with him, and he shall reade therein all daies of his life, that he may learne to feare the Lord his God, and to keepe all ye words of this Lawe, and these ordinances for to doe them:

(Deu 17:20) That his heart be not lifted vp aboue his brethren, and that he turne not from the commandement, to the right hand or to the left, but that he may prolong his daies in his kingdom, he, and his sonnes in the middes of Israel.

(Notes Reference) That his heart be not lifted up above his (o) brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to the end that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

(o) By which is meant that kings should love their subjects as nature causes one brother to love another.

Passage 2: Ecclesiastes 9

(Ecc 9:1) I have surely giuen mine heart to all this, and to declare all this, that the iust, and the wise, and their workes are in the hand of God: and no man knoweth eyther loue or hatred of all that is before them.

(Notes Reference) For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or (a) hatred [by] all [that is] before them.

(a) Meaning, what things he ought to chose or refuse: or man knows not by these outward things that is, by prosperity or adversity, whom God favours or hates, for he sends them as well to the wicked as to the godly.

(Ecc 9:2) All things come alike to all: and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked, to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an othe.

(Ecc 9:3) This is euill among all that is done vnder the sunne, that there is one condition to all, and also the heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill, and madnes is in their heartes whiles they liue, and after that, they goe to the dead.

(Notes Reference) This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one (b) event to all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

(b) In outward things, as riches and poverty, sickness and health, there is no difference between the godly and the wicked but the difference is that the godly are assured by faith of God's favour and assistance.

(Ecc 9:4) Surely whosoeuer is ioyned to all ye liuing, there is hope: for it is better to a liuing dog, then to a dead lyon.

(Notes Reference) For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a (c) living dog is better than a dead lion.

(c) He notes the Epicurean and carnal men, who made their body their god, and had no pleasure in this life, wishing rather to be an abased and vile person in this life, then a man of authority and so to die, which is meant by the dog and lion.

(Ecc 9:5) For the liuing knowe that they shall dye, but the dead knowe nothing at all: neither haue they any more a rewarde: for their remembrance is forgotten.

(Ecc 9:6) Also their loue, and their hatred, and their enuie is now perished, and they haue no more portion for euer, in all that is done vnder the sunne.

(Ecc 9:7) Goe, eate thy bread with ioy, and drinke thy wine with a cheerefull heart: for God nowe accepteth thy workes.

(Notes Reference) Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now (d) accepteth thy works.

(d) They flatter themselves to be in God's favour, because they have all things in abundance.

(Ecc 9:8) At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oyle be lacking vpon thine head.

(Notes Reference) Let thy garments be always (e) white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

(e) Rejoice, be merry and spare for no cost, thus speak the wicked belly-gods.

(Ecc 9:9) Reioyce with the wife whom thou hast loued all the dayes of the life of thy vanitie, which God hath giuen thee vnder the sunne all the dayes of thy vanitie: for this is thy portion in the life, and in thy trauaile wherein thou labourest vnder the sunne.

(Ecc 9:10) All that thine hand shall finde to doe, doe it with all thy power: for there is neither worke nor inuention, nor knowledge, nor wisedome in the graue whither thou goest.

(Ecc 9:11) I returned, and I sawe vnder the sunne that the race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor also riches to men of vnderstanding, neither yet fauour to men of knowledge: but time and chance commeth to them all.

(Notes Reference) I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and (f) chance happeneth to them all.

(f) Thus the worldlings say to prove that all things are lawful for them and attribute that to chance and fortune which is done by the providence of God.

(Ecc 9:12) For neither doth man knowe his time, but as the fishes which are taken in an euill net, and as the birdes that are caught in the snare: so are the children of men snared in the euill time when it falleth vpon them suddenly.

(Notes Reference) For man also knoweth not his (g) time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

(g) That is, he does not foresee what will come.

(Ecc 9:13) I haue also seene this wisedome vnder the sunne, and it is great vnto me.

(Ecc 9:14) A litle citie and fewe men in it, and a great King came against it, and compassed it about, and builded fortes against it.

(Ecc 9:15) And there was founde therein a poore and wise man, and he deliuered the citie by his wisedome: but none remembred this poore man.

(Ecc 9:16) Then said I, Better is wisdome then strength: yet the wisedome of the poore is despised, and his wordes are not heard.

(Ecc 9:17) The wordes of the wise are more heard in quietnes, then the crye of him that ruleth among fooles.

(Ecc 9:18) Better is wisedome then weapons of warre: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Passage 3: Acts 8

(Act 8:1) And Saul consented to his death, and at that time, there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Hierusalem, and they were all scattered abroad thorowe the regions of Iudea and of Samaria, except the Apostles.

(Notes Reference) And (1) Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

(1) Christ uses the rage of his enemies in the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom.

(Act 8:2) Then certaine men fearing God, caried Steuen amongs them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.

(Notes Reference) (2) And devout men (a) carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him.

(2) The godly mourn for Steven after his death, and bury him, showing in this an example of singular faith and charity: but no man prays to him.

(a) Amongst all the duties of charity which the godly perform, there is no mention made of enshrining relics.

(Act 8:3) But Saul made hauocke of the Church, and entred into euery house, and drewe out both men and women, and put them into prison.

(Notes Reference) (3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.

(3) The dispersion or scattering abroad of the faithful is the gathering together of churches.

(Act 8:4) Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and from preaching the worde.

(Act 8:5) Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them.

(Notes Reference) (4) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

(4) Philip, who was before a deacon in Jerusalem, is made an evangelist by God in an extraordinary way.

(Act 8:6) And the people gaue heed vnto those things which Philippe spake, with one accorde, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

(Act 8:7) For vncleane spirits crying with a loud voyce, came out of many that were possessed of them: and many taken with palsies, and that halted, were healed.

(Act 8:8) And there was great ioy in that citie.

(Act 8:9) And there was before in the citie a certaine man called Simon, which vsed witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himselfe was some great man.

(Notes Reference) (5) But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used (b) sorcery, and (c) bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

(5) Christ overcomes Satan as often as he desires, and carries him about as it were in triumph, in the sight of those whom Satan deceived and bewitched.

(b) The word which is used in this place was at first used of good things, and is borrowed from the language of the Persians, who call their wise men by that name; but afterwards it was used of evil things.

(Act 8:10) To whome they gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.

(Act 8:11) And they gaue heed vnto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

(Act 8:12) But assoone as they beleeued Philip, which preached the thinges that concerned the kingdome of God, and the Name of Iesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.

(Act 8:13) Then Simon himselfe beleeued also and was baptized, and continued with Philippe, and wondred, when he sawe the signes and great miracles which were done.

(Notes Reference) (6) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

(6) The wicked and the highly reprobate are often forced to taste the good gift of God, but they immediately spit it out again.

(Act 8:14) Nowe when the Apostles, which were at Hierusalem, heard say, that Samaria had receiued the worde of God, they sent vnto them Peter and Iohn.

(Notes Reference) (7) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

(7) Peter, not chief but as an ambassador sent from the whole company of the apostles, and John his companion, according to the authority which was committed unto them, strengthen, encourage, and build up the churches of Samaria, whose foundation had been laid before by Philip.

(Act 8:15) Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the holy Ghost.

(Notes Reference) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the (d) Holy Ghost:

(d) Those excellent gifts which are necessary, especially for those that were to be appointed rulers and governors of the Church.

(Act 8:16) (For as yet, hee was fallen downe on none of them, but they were baptized onely in the Name of the Lord Iesus.)

(Act 8:17) Then layd they their handes on them, and they receiued the holy Ghost.

(Act 8:18) And when Simon sawe, that through laying on of the Apostles hands the holy Ghost was giuen, he offred them money,

(Notes Reference) (8) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

(8) Covetousness and the seeking of glory at length remove the hypocrites from their dens.

(Act 8:19) Saying, Giue mee also this power, that on whomsoeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost.

(Act 8:20) Then saide Peter vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obteined with money.

(Notes Reference) (9) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

(9) They are the successors of Simon Magus, and not Simon Peter, who either buy or sell holy things.

(Act 8:21) Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this businesse: for thine heart is not right in the sight of God.

(Notes Reference) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this (e) matter: for thy heart is not (f) right in the sight of God.

(e) In this doctrine which I preach.

(f) Is not upright indeed and without the concealing of hypocritical motives.

(Act 8:22) Repent therefore of this thy wickednes, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.

(Notes Reference) (10) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

(10) We must hope well even for the vilest sinners, as long as and as much as we can.

(Act 8:23) For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.

(Notes Reference) For I perceive that thou art in the (g) gall of bitterness, and [in] the (h) bond of iniquity.

(g) He calls the inward malice of the heart and the venomous and demonic wickedness with which the magician was wholly filled with the gall of bitterness: and he is said to be in the gall, as though he were wholly overwhelmed with gall, and buried in it.

(h) Entangled in the bonds of iniquity.

(Act 8:24) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me.

(Act 8:25) So they, when they had testified and preached the worde of the Lord, returned to Hierusalem, and preached the Gospel in many townes of the Samaritans.

(Act 8:26) Then the Angel of the Lord spake vnto Philip, saying, Arise, and goe towarde the South vnto the way that goeth downe from Hierusalem vnto Gaza, which is waste.

(Notes Reference) (11) And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

(11) Christ, who calls freely whom he wishes, now uses Philip, who was not thinking about any such thing, to unexpectedly instruct and baptize the eunuch, and by this means extends the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia.

(Act 8:27) And hee arose and went on: and beholde, a certaine Eunuche of Ethiopia, Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians chiefe Gouernour, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Hierusalem to worship:

(Notes Reference) And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch (i) of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

(i) A man of great wealth and authority with Candace. Now this word "Candace" is a common name of all the Queens of Ethiopia.

(Act 8:28) And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.

(Act 8:29) Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.

(Act 8:30) And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest?

(Act 8:31) And he saide, Howe can I, except I had a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him.

(Notes Reference) And he said, How can I, except some man should (k) guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

(k) To show me the way to understand it.

(Act 8:32) Nowe the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, Hee was lead as a sheepe to the slaughter: and like a lambe domme before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

(Notes Reference) (12) The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

(12) Those things which seem to come most by chance or fortune (as men term it) are governed by the secret providence of God.

(Act 8:33) In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

(Notes Reference) In his (l) humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his (m) generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

(l) The Hebrew text reads it in this way, "out of a narrow strait, and out of judgment was he taken": and by the "narrow strait" he means the grave and the very bonds of death, and by "judgment" he means the punishment which was laid upon him, and the miserable state which Christ took upon himself for our sakes, in bearing his Father's wrath.

(m) How long he will endure: for Christ, having once risen from the dead, dies no more; (Rom 6:9).

(Act 8:34) Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?

(Act 8:35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus.

(Act 8:36) And as they went on their way, they came vnto a certaine water, and the Eunuche said, See, here is water: what doeth let me to be baptized?

(Act 8:37) And Philippe said vnto him, If thou beleeuest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and saide, I beleeue that that Iesus Christ is that Sonne of God.

(Notes Reference) (13) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, (n) I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

(13) Profession of faith is required of those being baptized, and therefore it is evident that we are not first ingrafted into Christ when we are baptized, but are already ingrafted, and then are baptized. (Ed.)

(n) The sum of the confession which is necessary for baptism.

(Act 8:38) Then he commanded the charet to stand stil: and they went downe both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuche, and he baptized him.

(Act 8:39) And assoone as they were come vp out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe him no more: so he went on his way reioycing.

(Act 8:40) But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and from preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.