Week of February 21 Readings

This is an eventful week in our reading plan. We will be completing Chronicles and John, starting and completing Ezra, and beginning Nehemiah and Acts.

For most of its history, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book. They were separated in the Christian scriptures by Origen, Early Church Father from North Africa [185-254], and Jerome, Illyrian [Balkan Peninsula region] Catholic priest and translator of the Bible into Latin [347-420]. Ezra and Nehemiah remained one book in the Jewish scriptures until the 15th century.

Ezra 1-6 reports the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. Ezra 7-10 reports the initial activities of Ezra, who arrived nearly 60 years after the completion of the Temple.

Nehemiah recounts Nehemiah's role in constructing the walls of Jerusalem. It also tells the story of the expansion of Jerusalem's population, the correction of social abuses, the nurture of the community's worship life, and the prohibitions against the loss of Jewish identity through intermarriage.

Acts is a sequel to Luke. It continues the story of the Early Church, from Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost to Paul's final imprisonment in Rome. The early chapters tell the story of Peter's preaching in Jerusalem. From chapter 9, the story turns its attention to Paul, his three missionary journeys, and the establishment of Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean world.

Feb 21: 2Chron 32-33; John 18:19-40
Feb 22: 2Chron 34-36; John 19:1-22
Feb 23: Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42
Feb 24: Ezra 3-5; John 20
Feb 25: Ezra 6-8; John 21
Feb 26: Ezra 9-10; Acts 1
Feb 27: Nehemiah 1-3; Acts 2:1-21