From Promise to Faith: Abraham's Covenant Journey

1. Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treates you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4. So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan. 6. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land. 7. Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him. 8. He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on Yahweh’s name. 9. Abram traveled, still going on toward the South. 10. There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11. When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. 12. It will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13. Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” 14. When Abram had come into Egypt, Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15. The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16. He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17. Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18. Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 19. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.” 20. Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had. 1. Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South. 2. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3. He went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4. to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name. 5. Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6. The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their substance was great, so that they could not live together. 7. There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time. 8. Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9. Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10. Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11. So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13. Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh. 14. Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15. for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. 16. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. 17. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.” 18. Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh. 1. In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, 2. they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar). 3. All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea). 4. They served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. 5. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6. and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7. They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar. 8. The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim; 9. against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. 10. Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills. 11. They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. 12. They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13. One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and they were allies of Abram. 14. When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. 15. He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the other people. 17. The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18. Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. 19. He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: 20. and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. 21. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” 22. Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23. that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24. I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.” 1. After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2. Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3. Abram said, “Behold, to me you have given no children: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4. Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5. Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So will your offspring be.” 6. He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness. 7. He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.” 8. He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?” 9. He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10. He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11. The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12. When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13. He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14. I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, 15. but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16. In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17. It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18. In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19. the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20. the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21. the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

1. Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2. a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3. At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4. He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5. Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6. He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside. 7. When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8. Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9. Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12. in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14. But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15. A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16. This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. 17. Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18. and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21. Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” 22. They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23. So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24. On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27. As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28. He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29. Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” 30. Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31. and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33. Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.” 34. Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35. but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36. The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37. you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38. even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. 40. God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41. not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43. All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.” 44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47. “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” 48. He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days. 1. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” 4. But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9. But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10. This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14. who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17. If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” 19. They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22. The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23. who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27. Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30. which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 1. Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” 9. And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11. When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12. Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16. But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 17. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place. 18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19. When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. 20. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

1. Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might. 2. Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth. 3. For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah. 4. Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul. 5. He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth. 6. With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you. I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good. 7. For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.