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Chapter 31: Of Synods and Councils$ 

Chapter 31: Of Synods and Councils

 

1. For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils.

  $versebreak$Ch. 31:1$ 

Acts 15:2, 4, 6 $vr$PESV_Acts 15$2, 4, 6.doc@01841@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 15:2, 4, 6@01842@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Acts 15$2, 4, 6.doc@01843@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 15:2, 4, 6@01844@WEB)

 

2. Magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers and other fit persons to consult and advise with, about matters of religion.a However, if magistrates are open enemies to the Church, the ministers of Christ by themselves by virtue of their office, or they with other fit persons, upon delegation from their churches, may meet together in such assemblies.[1], b

  $versebreak$Ch. 31:2$ 

aIsaiah 49:23 $vr$PESV_Isaiah 49$23.doc@04265@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Isaiah.doc Isaiah 49:23@04266@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Isaiah 49$23.doc@04267@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Isaiah.doc Isaiah 49:23@04268@WEB) ; 1 Timothy 2:1–2 $vr$PESV_1 Timothy 2$1-2.doc@01817@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\1 Timothy.doc 1 Timothy 2:1-2@01818@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_1 Timothy 2$1-2.doc@01819@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\1 Timothy.doc 1 Timothy 2:1-2@01820@WEB) ; 2 Chronicles 19:8–11 $vr$PESV_2 Chronicles 19$8-11.doc@00453@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\2 Chronicles.doc 2 Chronicles 19:8-11@00454@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_2 Chronicles 19$8-11.doc@00455@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\2 Chronicles.doc 2 Chronicles 19:8-11@00456@WEB) ; 2 Chronicles 29–30 $vr$PESV_2 Chronicles 29-30.doc@00861@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\2 Chronicles.doc 2 Chronicles 29-30@00862@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_2 Chronicles 29-30.doc@00863@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\2 Chronicles.doc 2 Chronicles 29-30@00864@WEB) ; Matthew 2:4–5 $vr$PESV_Matthew 2$4-5.doc@03645@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Matthew.doc Matthew 2:4-5@03646@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Matthew 2$4-5.doc@03647@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Matthew.doc Matthew 2:4-5@03648@WEB) ; Proverbs 11:14 $vr$PESV_Proverbs 11$14.doc@02769@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Proverbs.doc Proverbs 11:14@02770@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Proverbs 11$14.doc@02771@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Proverbs.doc Proverbs 11:14@02772@WEB) ; bActs 15:2, 4, 22–23, 25 $vr$PESV_Acts 15$2, 4, 22-23, 25.doc@00149@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 15:2, 4, 22-23, 25@00150@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Acts 15$2, 4, 22-23, 25.doc@00151@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc    Acts 15:2, 4, 22-23, 25@00152@WEB)

 

3. It belongs to synods and councils:

·       Ministerially, to determine controversies of faith and cases of conscience

·       To set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God and of the government of His Church

·       To receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same.

These decrees and determinations, if consistent with the Word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission, not only for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power by which they are made. This is because this power is an ordinance of God appointed in His Word.   

  $versebreak$Ch. 31:3$ 

Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27–31 $vr$PESV_Acts 15$15, 19, 24, 27-31.doc@00069@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31@00070@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Acts 15$15, 19, 24, 27-31.doc@00071@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31@00072@WEB) ; Acts 16:4 $vr$PESV_Acts 16$4.doc@06117@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 16:4@06118@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Acts 16$4.doc@06119@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 16:4@06120@WEB) ; Matthew 18:17–20 $vr$PESV_Matthew 18$17-20.doc@01617@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Matthew.doc Matthew 18:17-20@01618@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Matthew 18$17-20.doc@01619@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Matthew.doc Matthew 18:17-20@01620@WEB)

 

4. All synods or councils since the Apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as a help in both.

  $versebreak$Ch. 31:4$ 

Ephesians 2:20 $vr$PESV_Ephesians 2$20.doc@02457@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Ephesians.doc Ephesians 2:20@02458@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Ephesians 2$20.doc@02459@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Ephesians.doc Ephesians 2:20@02460@WEB) ; Acts 17:11 $vr$PESV_Acts 17$11.doc@05613@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 17:11@05614@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Acts 17$11.doc@05615@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Acts.doc Acts 17:11@05616@WEB) ; 1 Corinthians 2:5 $vr$PESV_1 Corinthians 2$5.doc@01089@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\1 Corinthians.doc   1 Corinthians 2:5@01090@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_1 Corinthians 2$5.doc@01091@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\1 Corinthians.doc 1 Corinthians 2:5@01092@WEB) ; 2 Corinthians 1:24 $vr$PESV_2 Corinthians 1$24.doc@00889@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\2 Corinthians.doc 2 Corinthians 1:24@00890@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_2 Corinthians 1$24.doc@00891@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\2 Corinthians.doc 2 Corinthians 1:24@00892@WEB)

 

5. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical.

They are not to meddle with civil affairs that concern the commonwealth[2] unless by way of humble petition in extraordinary cases; or by way of advice if they are so required[3] by the civil magistrate, for satisfaction of conscience.

  $versebreak$Ch. 31:5$ 

Luke 12:13–14 $vr$PESV_Luke 12$13-14.doc@03509@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\Luke.doc Luke 12:13-14@03510@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_Luke 12$13-14.doc@03511@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\Luke.doc Luke 12:13-14@03512@WEB) ; John 18:36 $vr$PESV_John 18$36.doc@05809@(ESV  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\kj3\FormattedBooks\John.doc John 18:36@05810@KJ3  $vr$PNASB95_John 18$36.doc@05811@NASB  $vr$e:\a_data\translations\WorldEnglishBible\FormattedBooks\John.doc John 18:36@05812@WEB)

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Scripture Texts             Back to Main Page     Previous Chapter     Next Chapter

$startversetext$

Ch. 31:1

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 6  (ESV)                    Back

2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 6  (KJ3)                    Back

2 Therefore strife and not a little discussion with them occurring by Paul and Barnabas, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up into Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.

4 And arriving into Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and the apostles and the elders. And they reported as many things as God did with them.

6¶ And the apostles and the elders were assembled to see about this matter.

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 6  (NASB95)                    Back

2And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

6The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 6  (WEB)                    Back

2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

6           The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

 

 

Ch. 31:2

 

Isaiah 49:23  (ESV)                    Back

23Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

 

 

Isaiah 49:23  (KJ3)                    Back

23 And kings shall be supporting you, and their princesses ones nursing you. They shall bow to you, faces down to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. And you shall know that I am Jehovah, by whom they who wait for Me shall not be ashamed.

 

 

Isaiah 49:23  (NASB95)                    Back

23“Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you will know that I am the Lord; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.

 

 

Isaiah 49:23  (WEB)                    Back

23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,

 

 

1 Timothy 2:1–2  (ESV)                    Back

1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:1-2  (KJ3)                    Back

1¶ First of all therefore, I exhort that petitions, prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men,

2 for kings and all the ones being in preeminence, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:1–2  (NASB95)                    Back

1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:1-2  (WEB)                    Back

1           I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:

2 for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

 

 

2 Chronicles 19:8–11  (ESV)                    Back

8Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: 10whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”

 

 

2 Chronicles 19:8-11  (KJ3)                    Back

8 And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat caused to stand from the Levites and from the priests, and from the heads of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for strife; and they returned to Jerusalem.

9 And he charged them, saying, So shall you do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

10 And when any contention shall come to you from your brothers who are living in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, then you shall warn them, and they shall not be guilty before Jehovah; and wrath shall not be on you and on your brothers; so you shall do, and you shall not be guilty.

11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest shall be over you for every matter of Jehovah, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, shall be for every matter of the king; and the Levites shall be officers before you. Be strong and act; and Jehovah shall be with the good.

 

 

2 Chronicles 19:8–11  (NASB95)                    Back

8In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10“Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11“Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”

 

 

2 Chronicles 19:8-11  (WEB)                    Back

8           Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

9 He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

10 Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.”

 

 

2 Chronicles 29–30  (ESV)                    Back

1Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 6For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. 7They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. 8Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” 12Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.” 20Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. 21And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king’s seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. 26The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. 31Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. 36And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly. 1Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— 3for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— 4and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 5So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 6So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” 10So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord. 13And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron Valley. 15And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. 18For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone 19who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” 20And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord. 22And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 23Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.

 

 

2 Chronicles 29-30  (KJ3)                    Back

1¶ Hezekiah was a son of twenty five years when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 And he did the right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father David did.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Jehovah and strengthened them.

4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and he gathered them to the open place on the east.

5 And he said to them, Hear me, O Levites, now consecrate yourselves. And consecrate the house of Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and bring out the uncleanness from the holy place.

6 For our fathers have acted unfaithfully and did the evil in the eyes of Jehovah our God, and they have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the temple of Jehovah, and have given their backs.

7 And they have shut the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense, and burnt offering has not gone up in the sanctuary to the God of Israel.

8 And the wrath of Jehovah is on Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them for a trembling, for a horror, and for hissing, as you see with your eyes.

9 For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in exile for this.

10 Now it is in my heart to cut a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, and the glow of His anger shall turn back from us.

11 Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for Jehovah has chosen you to stand before His face, to serve Him and to be ministers and incense burners for Him.

12¶ And the Levites rose up: Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;

13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 And they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and came in, according to the commandment of the king in the matters of Jehovah, to cleanse the house of Jehovah.

16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of Jehovah to clean, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah to the court of the house of Jehovah; and the Levites received and took it out to the torrent Kidron outside.

17 And they began to sanctify on the first of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of Jehovah; and they sanctified the house of Jehovah in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they had finished.

18 And they came inside to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of Jehovah, and the altar of the burnt offering, and all its vessels, and the table of the Bread of Arrangement, and all its utensils;

19 and all the utensils that King Ahaz cast aside in his reign, in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and sanctified; and behold, they are before the altar of Jehovah.

20¶ And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the leaders of the city, and went up to the house of Jehovah.

21 And they brought in seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven young he-goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the sons of Aaron, the priests, to offer on the altar of Jehovah.

22 And they slaughtered the oxen, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23 And they brought the he-goats of the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands on them;

24 and the priests slaughtered them, and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to atone for all Israel; for the king said, The burnt offering and the sin offering are for all Israel.

25 And he made stand the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, by the command of David, and of Gad, the seer of the king, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was by the hand of Jehovah, by the hand of His prophets.

26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer burnt offering on the altar; and at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Jehovah began, and of the trumpets, even by the hand of the instruments of David the king of Israel.

28 And all the assembly were bowing, and the singers singing, and the trumpeters blowing; all until the completion of the burnt offering.

29 And at the completion of the offering the king and all those found with him bowed and worshiped.

30 And Hezekiah the king and the leaders commanded the Levites to give praise to Jehovah in the words of David, and of Asaph the seer; and they praised with joy, and they bowed and worshiped.

31 And Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have filled your hand to Jehovah; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Jehovah. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and every willing heart brought burnt offerings.

32 And the number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy oxen, a hundred rams, two hundred lambs; all these for a burnt offering to Jehovah.

33 And the dedicated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

34 Only, the priests had become few, and were not able to skin all of the burnt offerings; and their brothers the Levites strengthened them until the work was completed, and until the priests cleansed themselves; for the Levites were more upright of heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

35 And also, there were many burnt offerings with fat of the peace offerings, and with drink offerings for the burnt offering; and the service of the house of Jehovah was established.

36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, because God had prepared the people; for the thing had happened suddenly.

1¶ And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, to come to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, to make a Passover to Jehovah the God of Israel.

2 And the king and his leaders, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, took counsel to keep the Passover in the second month;

3 since they could not do it at that time, for the priests had not sanctified themselves enough. And the people had not been gathered to Jerusalem.

4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king, and in the eyes of the assembly.

5 And they established a decree to pass through a call to all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, to come to make a Passover to Jehovah the God of Israel in Jerusalem. For not many of them had done as it is written.

6 And the runners went with letters from the king’s hand, and his leaders, to all Israel and Judah; even by the king’s command, saying, O sons of Israel return to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. And He shall return to the remnant left of you from the palm of the king of Assyria.

7 And do not be like your fathers, and like your brothers, who acted unfaithfully against Jehovah the God of their fathers; and He made them for a horror, as you see.

8 Now do not stiffen your necks like your fathers. Give a hand to Jehovah and come to His sanctuary that He has sanctified forever; and serve Jehovah your God. And the anger of His face will turn away from you.

9 For when you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your sons will have mercies before ones who captured them, even to return to this land. For Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and He will not turn His face away from you, if you turn back to Him.

10 And the runners passed from city to city in the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, even to Zebulun. And they were laughing at them, and mocking them.

11 Only, men from Asher, and Manasseh, and from Zebulun were humbled, and came to Jerusalem.

12 Also, in Judah the hand of God was to give to them one heart to do the king’s command, and of the leaders, by the Word of Jehovah.

13¶ And many people gathered to Jerusalem, to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly.

14 And they rose up and took away the altars in Jerusalem, and all the incense altars they took away and threw them into the torrent Kidron.

15 And they killed the passover offering on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in burnt offerings to the house of Jehovah.

16 And they stood in their place according to their ordinance, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests were sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites.

17 For many in the assembly had not sanctified themselves, and the Levites were over the slaughtering of the passover offerings for everyone not clean, to sanctify them to Jehovah.

18 For many of the assembly, many from Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not been sanctified, but ate the passover not as was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, O good Jehovah, atone for them,

19 everyone who has prepared his heart to seek Jehovah God, the God of his fathers, yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary.

20 And Jehovah listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21¶ And the sons of Israel, those found in Jerusalem, kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy. And the Levites praised Jehovah day to day, and the priests, with instruments of strength before Jehovah.

22 And Hezekiah spoke to the heart of all the Levites, those acting wisely in good understanding as to Jehovah. And they ate the appointed feast seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

23 And all the assembly took counsel to keep another seven days. And they kept seven days joyfully.

24 And Hezekiah the king of Judah had lifted up to the assembly a thousand young bulls, and seven thousand sheep. And the leaders had lifted up to the assembly a thousand young bulls, and ten thousand sheep. And the priests had sanctified themselves in abundance.

25 And all the assembly of Judah rejoiced, and the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came from the land of Israel, and the aliens who came from the land of Israel, and those living in Judah.

26 And there was great joy in Jerusalem, for from the days of Solomon the son of David the king of Israel, there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.

27 And the priests, the Levites, rose up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to Heaven.

 

 

2 Chronicles 29–30  (NASB95)                    Back

1Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. 3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east. 5Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6“For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs. 7“They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8“Therefore the wrath of the Lord was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9“For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10“Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11“My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.” 12Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord. 16So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the Lord they brought out to the court of the house of the Lord. Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley. 17Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the Lord. Then they consecrated the house of the Lord in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. 18Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils. 19“Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.” 20Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. 21They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23Then they brought the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. 24The priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. 25He then stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the Lord through His prophets. 26The Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. 28While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped. 31Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings. 32The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33The consecrated things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests. 35There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was established again. 36Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly. 1Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, 3since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. 4Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly. 5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed. 6The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7“Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. 8“Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. 9“For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” 10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord. 13Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly. 14They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord. 16They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the Lord. 18For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon 19everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” 20So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord. 22Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the Lord. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers. 23Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy. 24For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves. 25All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 27Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

 

 

2 Chronicles 29-30  (WEB)                    Back

1           Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that David his father had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of Yahweh’s house, and repaired them.

4 He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the wide place on the east,

5 and said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify Yahweh, the God of your fathers’ house, and carry the filthiness out of the holy place.

6 For our fathers were unfaithful, and have done that which was evil in Yahweh our God’s sight, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their backs.

7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore Yahweh’s wrath was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.

9 For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

11 My sons, don’t be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense.”

12         Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;

13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by Yahweh’s words, to cleanse Yahweh’s house.

16 The priests went into the inner part of Yahweh’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in Yahweh’s temple into the court of Yahweh’s house. The Levites took it from there to carry it out to the brook Kidron.

17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to Yahweh’s porch. They sanctified Yahweh’s house in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace, and said, “We have cleansed all Yahweh’s house, including the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, and the table of show bread with all its vessels.

19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign threw away when he was unfaithful, have we prepared and sanctified. Behold, they are before Yahweh’s altar.”

20         Then Hezekiah the king arose early, gathered the princes of the city, and went up to Yahweh’s house.

21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. He commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on Yahweh’s altar.

22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar. They killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23 They brought near the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them.

24 Then the priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25         He set the Levites in Yahweh’s house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from Yahweh by his prophets.

26 The Levites stood with David’s instruments, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, Yahweh’s song also began, along with the trumpets and David king of Israel’s instruments.

28 All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

29         When they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.

30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

31         Then Hezekiah answered, “Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into Yahweh’s house.” The assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

32 The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

33 The consecrated things were six hundred head of cattle and three thousand sheep.

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

35 Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of Yahweh’s house was set in order.

36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, because of that which God had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.

1           Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

2 For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.

3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

4 The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.

5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.

6           So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, “You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

7 Don’t be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.

8 Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

9 For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

10         So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless some men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by Yahweh’s word.

13         Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.

14 They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook Kidron.

15 Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into Yahweh’s house.

16 They stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood which they received of the hand of the Levites.

17 For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh.

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover other than the way it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Yahweh pardon everyone

19 who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

20         Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21 The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. The Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh.

22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

23         The whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

25 All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the foreigners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah, rejoiced.

26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.

27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.

 

 

Matthew 2:4–5  (ESV)                    Back

4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

 

 

Matthew 2:4-5  (KJ3)                    Back

4 And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet,

 

 

Matthew 2:4–5  (NASB95)                    Back

4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

 

 

Matthew 2:4-5  (WEB)                    Back

4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

 

 

Proverbs 11:14  (ESV)                    Back

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

 

 

Proverbs 11:14  (KJ3)                    Back

14¶ In the absence of wise counsels the people fall, but safety is in a great counselor.

 

 

Proverbs 11:14  (NASB95)                    Back

14Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

 

 

Proverbs 11:14  (WEB)                    Back

14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 22–23, 25  (ESV)                    Back

2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 22-23, 25  (KJ3)                    Back

2 Therefore strife and not a little discussion with them occurring by Paul and Barnabas, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up into Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.

4 And arriving into Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and the apostles and the elders. And they reported as many things as God did with them.

22¶ Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with all the assembly, to send men being chosen from them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, the one being called Barsabas, and Silas, men leading among the the brothers,

23 writing by their hand these things: The apostles and the elders and the brothers, to the brothers throughout Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, the ones from the nations: Greeting.

25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to send men being chosen out to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 22–23, 25  (NASB95)                    Back

2And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

25it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 

 

Acts 15:2, 4, 22-23, 25  (WEB)                    Back

2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

22         Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

23 They wrote these things by their hand:

25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 

 

Ch. 31:3

 

Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27–31  (ESV)                    Back

15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

24Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” 30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

 

 

Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31  (KJ3)                    Back

15 And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written,

19 For this reason I judge not to cause trouble to the ones from the nations turning to God,

24 Since we heard that some of us going out have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, Be circumcised and keep the Law, to whom we gave no command;

27 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, they by word also announcing the same things.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you no more burden except these necessary things:

29 To hold back from idol sacrifices, and from blood, and from the strangled thing, and from fornication; from which carefully keeping yourselves, you will do well. Farewell.

30 Then they indeed being let go, they came to Antioch. And having assembled the multitude, they delivered the letter.

31 And reading it, they rejoiced at the comfort.

 

 

Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27–31  (NASB95)                    Back

15“With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

19“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

24“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,

27“Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” 30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

 

 

Acts 15:15, 19, 24, 27-31  (WEB)                    Back

15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

30         So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

 

 

Acts 16:4  (ESV)                    Back

4As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

 

 

Acts 16:4  (KJ3)                    Back

4 And as they went through the cities, they gave over to them to keep the decrees, the ones having been decided by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem.

 

 

Acts 16:4  (NASB95)                    Back

4Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe.

 

 

Acts 16:4  (WEB)                    Back

4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

 

 

Matthew 18:17–20  (ESV)                    Back

17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

 

 

Matthew 18:17-20  (KJ3)                    Back

17 But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the assembly. And if he also refuses to hear the assembly, let him be to you as the pagan and the tax collector.

18 Truly I say to you, as many things as you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in Heaven. And as many things as you loose on the earth will be, having been loosed in Heaven.

19 Again I say to you, If two of you agree on earth as to anything, whatever they shall ask, it shall be to them from My Father in Heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

 

Matthew 18:17–20  (NASB95)                    Back

17“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

 

 

Matthew 18:17-20  (WEB)                    Back

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.

18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.

19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

 

 

Ch. 31:4

 

Ephesians 2:20  (ESV)                    Back

20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

 

 

Ephesians 2:20  (KJ3)                    Back

20 being built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone,

 

 

Ephesians 2:20  (NASB95)                    Back

20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

 

 

Ephesians 2:20  (WEB)                    Back

20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

 

 

Acts 17:11  (ESV)                    Back

11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

 

 

Acts 17:11  (KJ3)                    Back

11 And these were more noble than the ones in Thessalonica, who received the Word with all readiness, according to a day examining the Scriptures if these things might have been so.

 

 

Acts 17:11  (NASB95)                    Back

11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

 

 

Acts 17:11  (WEB)                    Back

11         Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:5  (ESV)                    Back

5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:5  (KJ3)                    Back

5 that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:5  (NASB95)                    Back

5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:5  (WEB)                    Back

5 that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:24  (ESV)                    Back

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:24  (KJ3)                    Back

24 Not that we rule over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of your joy. For by faith you stand.

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:24  (NASB95)                    Back

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:24  (WEB)                    Back

24 Not that we control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

 

 

Ch. 31:5

 

Luke 12:13–14  (ESV)                    Back

13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

 

 

Luke 12:13-14  (KJ3)                    Back

13¶ And one from the crowd said to Him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

14 But He said to him, Man, who appointed Me a judge or a divider over you?

 

 

Luke 12:13–14  (NASB95)                    Back

13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

 

 

Luke 12:13-14  (WEB)                    Back

13         One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14         But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

 

 

John 18:36  (ESV)                    Back

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

 

 

John 18:36  (KJ3)                    Back

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom was of this world, My servants would have fought that I might not be given over to the Jews. But now My kingdom is not from here.

 

 

John 18:36  (NASB95)                    Back

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

 

 

John 18:36  (WEB)                    Back

36         Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

 

 



[1] Editorial opinion: Civil magistrates have no authority in doctrinal, theological, or ecclesiastical matters. Yet, as ministers of God, they are to rule according to Scripture, under God. Thus, magistrates may have good cause to request (but not require) the assistance of a synod or council regarding the theology of civil government, justice, and so forth. See Appendix A.

[2] This is not meant to preclude ministers or laymen from preaching or teaching on any subject, including on civil government, or from participating in civic duties normal to all citizens.

[3] Editorial opinion: The civil magistrate may request, but not require, a synod or council to give advice. The permission or request of the civil magistrate is not required in order for a synod or council to give unsolicited advice, preaching, teaching, public rebuke or any other normal Gospel ministry to magistrates or any other. See Appendix A.

The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”