Study Desk

"So Abraham left the country of Chaldea. He went to live in Haran. After his father died, God sent him to this place, where you live now.

But God did not give Abraham any of this land, not even a foot of it. But God promised that in the future he would give Abraham this land for himself and for his children. This was before Abraham had any children.

"God made an agreement with Abraham; the sign for this agreement was circumcision. And so when Abraham had a son, he circumcised him when he was eight days old. His son's name was Isaac. Isaac also circumcised his son Jacob. And Jacob did the same for his sons, who became the twelve great ancestors of our people.

and saved him from all his troubles. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt then. He liked Joseph and respected him because of the wisdom God gave him. Pharaoh gave Joseph the job of being a governor of Egypt. He even let him rule over all the people in Pharaoh's house.

Then they went there a second time. This time Joseph told his brothers who he was. And Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family.

Then Joseph sent some men to tell Jacob, his father, to come to Egypt. He also invited all his relatives, a total of 75 people.

"This was the time when Moses was born. He was a very beautiful child, and for three months his parents took care of him at home.

"When Moses was about 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the people of Israel.

Moses thought that his people would understand that God was using him to save them. But they did not understand.

"The next day, Moses saw two of his own people fighting. He tried to make peace between them. He said, ‘Men, you are brothers! Why are you trying to hurt each other?'

"This Moses was the one his people said they did not want. They said, ‘Did anyone say you could be our ruler and judge?' But he is the one God sent to be a ruler and savior. God sent him with the help of an angel, the one Moses saw in the burning bush.

You are the people who received God's law, which he gave you through his angels. But you don't obey it!"

He fell on his knees and shouted, "Lord, don't blame them for this sin!" These were his last words before he died.

Simon amazed the people with his magic for so long that the people became his followers.

Now he was on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet.

He was shamed, and all his rights were taken away. His life on earth has ended. So there will be no story about his descendants."

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; the official never saw him again. The official continued on his way home. He was very happy.

Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could not see. So the men with him held his hand and led him into Damascus.

He has seen a vision in which a man named Ananias came and laid his hands on him so that he could see again."

So Ananias left and went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road when you came here. He sent me so that you can see again and also be filled with the Holy Spirit."