Grumbling Clouds and Gospel Boldness

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2. “Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3. When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 4. If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5. When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward. 6. When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8. “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10. “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.” 11. In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12. The children of Israel went forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud stayed in the wilderness of Paran. 13. They first went forward according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. 14. First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army. 15. Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar. 16. Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun. 17. The tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, went forward. 18. The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army. 19. Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon. 20. Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad. 21. The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived. 22. The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army. 23. Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh. 24. Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin. 25. The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army. 26. Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher. 27. Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali. 28. Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward. 29. Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel.” 30. He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.” 31. He said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32. It shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever good Yahweh does to us, we will do the same to you.” 33. They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34. The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. 35. When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!” 36. When it rested, he said, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.” 1. The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2. The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated. 3. The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh’s fire burned among them. 4. The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5. We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 6. but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” 7. The manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like the appearance of bdellium. 8. The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. 9. When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it. 10. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and Yahweh’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11. Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12. Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them out, that you should tell me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?’ 13. Where could I get meat to give all these people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15. If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don’t let me see my wretchedness.” 16. Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17. I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you don’t bear it yourself alone. 18. “Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat. 19. You will not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, 20. but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’” 21. Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’ 22. Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?” 23. Yahweh said to Moses, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.” 24. Moses went out, and told the people Yahweh’s words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent. 25. Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 26. But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. 27. A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” 28. Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My lord Moses, forbid them!” 29. Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!” 30. Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31. A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32. The people rose up all that day, and all of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp. 33. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, Yahweh’s anger burned against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague. 34. The name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted. 35. From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth. 1. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2. They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it. 3. Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth. 4. Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out. 5. Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6. He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7. My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8. With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9. Yahweh’s anger burned against them; and he departed. 10. The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11. Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. 12. Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13. Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!” 14. Yahweh said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.” 15. Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again. 16. Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

1. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. 2. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3. He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4. Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. 7. They were about twelve men in all. 8. He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom. 9. But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10. This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11. God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12. so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out. 13. But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14. There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. 15. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16. The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18. Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19. Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20. So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty. 21. Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22. Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23. About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. 24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen, 25. whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth. 26. You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands. 27. Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.” 28. When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29. The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. 30. When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him. 31. Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. 32. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together. 33. They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people. 34. But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35. When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36. Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash. 37. For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another. 39. But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. 40. For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.” 41. When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. 1. After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. 2. When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece. 3. When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia. 4. These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5. But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas. 6. We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days. 7. On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight. 8. There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9. A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor, and was taken up dead. 10. Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11. When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed. 12. They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted. 13. But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene. 15. Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus. 16. For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. 17. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly. 18. When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 19. serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20. how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21. testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. 22. Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; 23. except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. 24. But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God. 25. “Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more. 26. Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, 27. for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. 29. For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31. Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. 32. Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33. I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing. 34. You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. 35. In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36. When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37. They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38. sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. 1. When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2. Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. 3. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4. Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5. When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. 6. After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. 7. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. 8. On the next day, we, who were Paul’s companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10. As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11. Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12. When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14. When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15. After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 16. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay. 17. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18. The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. 19. When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20. They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21. They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. 22. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. 24. Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. 25. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.” 26. Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. 27. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, 28. crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!” 29. For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30. All the city was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut. 31. As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32. Immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. 33. Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. 34. Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn’t find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. 35. When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 36. for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” 37. As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek? 38. Aren’t you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?” 39. But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40. When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,

1. Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. 2. For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. 3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin. 4. For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5. My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness. 6. I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long. 7. For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh. 8. I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. 9. Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. 10. My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. 11. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. 12. They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. 13. But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. 14. Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15. For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God. 16. For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.” 17. For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. 18. For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. 19. But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20. They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. 21. Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me. 22. Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.