At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the
Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews
and Greeks believed.2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the
other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.3 So Paul and Barnabas spent
considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the
message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.4 The people of the city
were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.5 There was a plot afoot
among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and
stone them.6 But
they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding country,7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
20 But
a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a
prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
21 You
may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by
the Lord?” 22 If
what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord
does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously,
so do not be alarmed.
While Ezra was praying and
confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large
crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept
bitterly. 2 Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the
descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by
marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there
is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before
our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the
counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be
done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your
hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”
5 So
Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath
to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. 6 Then
Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan
son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because
he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7 A
proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles
to assemble in Jerusalem. 8 Anyone who failed to appear within
three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of
the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of
the exiles.
9 Within
the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem.
And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the
square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because
of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them,
“You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s
guilt. 11 Now honor[a] the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do
his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign
wives.”
12 The
whole assembly responded with a loud voice: “You are right! We must do as you
say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy
season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of
in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let
our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who
has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and
judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned
away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son
of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
16 So
the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family
heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On
the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and
by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who
had married foreign women.
18 Among
the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women:
From
the descendants of Joshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer,
Jarib and Gedaliah. 19 (They all gave their hands in pledge to
put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the
flock as a guilt offering.)
20 From
the descendants of Immer:
Hanani
and Zebadiah.
21 From
the descendants of Harim:
Maaseiah,
Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.
22 From
the descendants of Pashhur:
Elioenai,
Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.
23 Among
the Levites:
Jozabad,
Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.
24 From
the musicians:
Eliashib.
From
the gatekeepers:
Shallum,
Telem and Uri.
25 And
among the other Israelites:
From
the descendants of Parosh:
Ramiah,
Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.
26 From
the descendants of Elam:
Mattaniah,
Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.
27 From
the descendants of Zattu:
Elioenai,
Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.
28 From
the descendants of Bebai:
Jehohanan,
Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.
29 From
the descendants of Bani:
Meshullam,
Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.
30 From
the descendants of Pahath-Moab:
Adna,
Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.
31 From
the descendants of Harim:
Eliezer,
Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluk and
Shemariah.
33 From
the descendants of Hashum:
Mattenai,
Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.
