| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| December 27, 2025 | ESV (2016) | OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027 |
1 Chronicles 23
Observation & Interpretation
1 Chron. 23:4-5 – Provides the numbers of Levites for their duties:
- 24,000 – to work on the house
- 6,000 – officers
- 4,000 – gatekeepers
- 4,000 – to offer praise
- 38,000 total
1 Chron. 23:14 – The sons of Moses were named among the tribe of Levi.
- Moses was of the Levitical line.
1 Chron. 23:27 – By the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward.
- Similar to other numberings in the Bible (ex. Exod., Num., etc.)
- David, with his last words, lowered the minimum age to twenty years old and above because more manpower would be needed in the service of the temple. (BBC)
1 Chron. 23:1-32 – The preparations David made for the temple and the commissioning of his son, Solomon, for its construction speak to how we are to be forward-looking in passing on rightful worship of the LORD to future generations.
Acts 12
Observation & Interpretation
Acts 12:2-3 – Herod killed James by the sword ad when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested as well.
- Herod was motivated by the Jews approving the killing of James.
- The Jews responded so enthusiastically to the execution of James that Herod was encouraged to do the same with Peter. (BBC)
Acts 12:4 – Herod intended to bring Peter out to the people after the Passover.
- …executions were not exactly appropriate during religious holidays. Also the Jews would be too busy with their ceremonies to appreciate the favor, so Herod ordered Peter to jail during the interim. (BBC)
Acts 12:19 – After Herod searched fr Peter in the prison and did not find him, Herod examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death.
- Death was the penalty for sentries who lost prisoners.
- According to the Roman code of Justinian, soldiers who allowed a captive to escape would suffer the same penalty their charge was a suffer. Thus we see Peter was to be executed. (CSB Notes)
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Colin Hansen (Editor in Chief), TGC Bible Commentary (Columbia, MO: The Gospel Coalition, 2022)
- Iain M. Duguid (Series Editor), ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018-2025)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem (Editors), ESV Study Bible, Crossway, 2008.
