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Read (and listen!) through the amazing story of Luke and Acts!
Immerse: Luke and Acts is part of Immerse: The Reading Bible, which takes you on a new and unique journey through the books of Luke and Acts in the New Testament. This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures. The goal of Bible reading is to understand the sacred writings in depth so we can learn to live with them. Using the text of the New Living Translation (NLT) from Tyndale Publishing, now you can experience Luke and Acts the same way the original readers did and be fully immersed in the most amazing story of all time!
Oliver: Welcome to Immerse Luke
and Acts, Day two, Week one
.
At that time, the Roman Emperor
Augustus decreed that a census should
be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
This was the first census taken when
Quirinius was the governor of Syria.
All returned to their own ancestral
towns to register for the census.
And because Joseph was a descendant of
King David, he had to go to Bethlehem
in Judea, David's ancient home.
He traveled there from the
village of Nazareth in Galilee.
He took with him Mary, to whom he was
engaged, who was now expecting a child.
And while they were there, the
time came for her baby to be born.
She gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him snugly in strips of
cloth and laid him in a manger, because
there was no lodging available for them.
That night, there were shepherds
staying in the fields nearby,
guarding their flocks of sheep.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared
among them, and the radiance of
the Lord's glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel
reassured them, Don't be afraid.
He said, I bring you good news that
will bring great joy to all people.
The Savior, yes, the Messiah,
the Lord, has been born today
in Bethlehem, the city of David.
And you will recognize him by this sign.
You will find a baby wrapped snugly
in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast
host of others, the armies of heaven,
praising God and saying, Glory to God
in highest heaven, and peace on earth
to those with whom God is pleased.
When the angels had returned to
heaven, the shepherds said to
each other, Let's go to Bethlehem.
Let's see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.
They hurried to the village and
found Mary and Joseph, and there
was the baby lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told
everyone what had happened, and what the
angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherd's story were
astonished, but Mary kept all these things
in her heart and thought about them often.
The shepherds went back to their
flocks, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them.
8 days later, when the baby was
circumcised, he was named Jesus,
the name given him by the angel
even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for their purification
offering, as required by the law of
Moses after the birth of a child.
So his parents took him to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord.
The Law of the Lord says if a
woman's first child is a boy, he
must be dedicated to the Lord.
So they offered the sacrifice required
in the Law of the Lord, either a pair
of turtle doves or two young pigeons.
At that time, there was a man
in Jerusalem named Simeon.
He was righteous and devout,
and was eagerly waiting for the
Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
The Holy Spirit was upon him, and had
revealed to him that he would not die
until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
That day the Spirit led him to the temple.
So, when Mary and Joseph came to
present the baby Jesus to the Lord as
the law required, Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and
praised God, saying, Sovereign
Lord, now let your servant die
in peace, as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation, which
you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God
to the nations, and he is the
glory of your people Israel.
Jesus parents were amazed at
what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said
to Mary, the baby's mother, This child
is destined to cause many in Israel
to fall, and many others to rise.
He has been sent as a sign from
God, but many will oppose him.
As a result, the deepest thoughts
of many hearts will be revealed, and
a sword will pierce your very soul.
Anna, a prophet, was
also there in the temple.
She was the daughter of Phanuel from the
tribe of Asher, and she was very old.
Her husband died when they had
been married only seven years.
Then she lived as a widow
to the age of eighty four.
She never left the temple, but stayed
there day and night, worshipping
God with fasting and prayer.
She came along just as Simeon
was talking with Mary and Joseph,
and she began praising God.
She talked about the child to everyone
who had been waiting expectantly
for God to rescue Jerusalem.
When Jesus parents had fulfilled all the
requirements of the law of the Lord, they
returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
There the child grew
up healthy and strong.
He was filled with wisdom,
and God's favor was on him.
Every year Jesus parents went to
Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
When Jesus was 12 years old, they
attended the festival as usual.
After the celebration was over,
they started home to Nazareth.
But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
His parents didn't miss him at
first, because they assumed he
was among the other travelers.
But when he didn't show up that
evening, they started looking for him
among their relatives and friends.
When they couldn't find him, they went
back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
Three days later, they finally
discovered him in the temple,
sitting among the religious teachers,
listening to them and asking questions.
All who heard him were amazed at
his understanding and his answers.
His parents didn't know what to think.
Son, his mother said to him,
why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been frantic,
searching for you everywhere.
But why did you need to search?
He asked.
Didn't you know that I must
be in my father's house?
But they didn't understand what he meant.
Then he returned to Nazareth with
them and was obedient to them.
And his mother stored all
these things in her heart.
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and
in favor with God and all the people.
It was now the fifteenth year of
the reign of Tiberius, the Roman
Emperor, Pontius Pilate was governor
over Judea, Herod Antipas was ruler
over Galilee, his brother Philip was
ruler over Etyria and Trachonitis,
Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, Annas
and Caiaphas were the high priests.
It was now the fifteenth year of
the reign of Tiberius, the Roman
Emperor, Pontius Pilate was governor
over Judea, Herod Antipas was ruler
over Galilee, his brother Philip was
ruler over Etyria and Trachonitis,
Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, Annas
and Caiaphas were the high priests.
Oliver: At this time a message from
God came to John, son of Zechariah,
who was living in the wilderness.
Then John went from place to place on
both sides of the Jordan River, preaching
that people should be baptized, to
show that they had repented of their
sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness.
Prepare the way for the Lord's coming.
Clear the road for him.
The valleys will be filled, and
the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.
When the crowds came to John for
baptism, he said, You brood of snakes!
Who warned you to flee the coming wrath,
prove by the way you live that you have
repented of your sins, and turn to God?
Don't you say to each other, We're
safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.
That means nothing, for I tell
you, God can create children of
Abraham from these very stones.
Even now the axe of God's
judgment is poised, ready to
sever the roots of the trees.
Yes, every tree that does not
produce good fruit will be chopped
down and thrown into the fire.
The crowds asked, what should we do?
John replied, if you have two
shirts, give one to the poor.
If you have food, share it
with those who are hungry.
Even corrupt tax collectors
came to be baptized and asked,
Teacher, what should we do?
He replied, Collect no more taxes
than the government requires.
What should we do?
asked some soldiers.
John replied, Don't extort
money, or make false accusations,
and be content with your pay.
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to
come soon, and they were eager to know
whether John might be the Messiah.
John answered their questions by
saying, I baptize you with water.
But someone is coming soon who is
greater than I am, so much greater that
I'm not even worthy to be his slave
and untie the straps of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire.
He is ready to separate the chaff from
the wheat with his winnowing fork.
Then he will clean up the threshing area,
gathering the wheat into his barn, but
burning the chaff with never ending fire.
John used many such warnings as he
announced the good news to the people.
John also publicly criticized Herod
Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for
marrying Herodias, his brother's wife,
and for many other wrongs he had done.
So Herod put John in prison,
adding this sin to his many others.
One day when the crowds were being
baptized, Jesus himself was baptized.
As he was praying, the heavens
opened, and the Holy Spirit in bodily
form descended on him like a dove.
And a voice from heaven said,
You are my dearly loved son,
and you bring me great joy.
Jesus was about 30 years old when
he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
Heli was the son of Mathat.
Mathat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melchi.
Melchi was the son of Jani.
Jani was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Nahum.
Nahum was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Nagi.
Nagi was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Metathias was the son of Simeon,
Simeon was the son of Josek, Josek
was the son of Jodah, Jodah was the
son of Joannan, Joannan was the son of
Rhesa, Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the son of Nerai.
Nerai was the son of Malki.
Malki was the son of Addi.
Addi was the son of Kosem.
Kosem was the son of Elmatim.
Elmatim was the son of Ur.
Ur was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the son of Joram.
Joram was the son of Mathat.
Mathat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the son of Melia.
Melia was the son of Menah.
Menah was the son of Maritha.
Maritha was the son of Nathan.
Nathan was the son of David.
David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.
Salmon was the son of Nashon.
Nashon was the son of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the son of Admin.
Admin was the son of Arnai.
Arnai was the son of Hezron.
Hezron was the son of Perez.
Perez was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Jacob.
Jacob was the son of Isaac.
Isaac was the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the son of Terah.
Tera was the son of Nahor.
Nahor was the son of Sirug.
Sirug was the son of Riu.
Riu was the son of Peleg.
Peleg was the son of Eber.
Eber was the son of Shelah.
Shelah was the son of Canaan.
Canaan was the son of Arphaxad.
Arphaxad was the son of Shem.
Shem was the son of Noah.
Noah was the son of Lamech.
Lamech was the son of Methuselah.
Methuselah was the son of Enoch, Enoch
was the son of Jared, Jared was the son
of Mahalalal, Mahalalal was the son of
Canaan, Canaan was the son of Enosh,
Enosh was the son of Seth, Seth was the
son of Adam, Adam was the son of God.
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,
returned from the Jordan River.
He was led by the Spirit in the
wilderness, where he was tempted
by the devil for forty days.
Jesus ate nothing all that
time, and became very hungry.
Then the devil said to him, If
you are the Son of God, tell this
stone to become a loaf of bread.
But Jesus told him, No, the Scriptures
say, People do not live by bread alone.
Then the devil took him up, and
revealed to him all the kingdoms
of the world in a moment of time.
I will give you the glory of
these kingdoms and authority
over them, the devil said.
Because they are mine to
give to anyone I please.
I will give it all to you if you
will worship me, Jesus replied.
The scriptures say you must worship
the Lord your God and serve only Him.
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem,
to the highest point of the temple, and
said, If you are the Son of God, jump off.
He will order his angels to protect and
guard you, and they will hold you up
with their hands, so you won't even hurt
your foot on a stone, Jesus responded.
The scriptures also say, you
must not test the Lord your God.
When the devil had finished
tempting Jesus, he left him
until the next opportunity came.
This concludes today's
Immerse Reading Experience.
Thank you for joining us.