{"id":3288,"date":"2017-04-29T20:20:59","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T00:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2017-04-28T20:53:39","modified_gmt":"2017-04-29T00:53:39","slug":"orthodox-daily-devotional-for-april-30-may-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=3288","title":{"rendered":"Orthodox Daily Devotional for April 30 &#8211; May 6"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday<\/p>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"3t8b5\" data-offset-key=\"ad2gn-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ad2gn-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ad2gn-0-0\"><span data-text=\"true\">The reading is Mark 16:1-1 about the Myrrhbearing women who came to the tomb of Christ early on Pascha.<\/p>\n<p>ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE NOTES&#8230;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"3t8b5\" data-offset-key=\"9l0h9-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"9l0h9-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"9l0h9-0-0\"><span data-text=\"true\">Because Christ died so close in time to the Sabbath, the burial customs of the Jews could not be completed. Therefore, these faithful women went as early as possible to complete the rites of burial. Many teach that Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John. (Certain Fathers teach that Mary the mother of James was the wife of Alphaeus, and this James was one of the Twelve (6: 15). Most, however, hold that this is the Virgin Mary, being in fact the stepmother of a different James, \u201cthe Lord\u2019s brother\u201d.) The stone had been rolled away not to accommodate the Lord\u2019s exit from the tomb, for in His resurrected body, He needs no such accommodation (Jn 20: 19). Rather, this was to allow the witnesses\u2014 and us\u2014 to look in and see that the tomb was empty. The specific mention of Peter reveals a special care for the one who had denied Christ. In the words of Theophylact, Peter would have said of himself, \u201cI denied the Lord, and therefore am no longer His disciple.\u201d The angel\u2019s command is a promise that Peter is forgiven. They said nothing to anyone does not mean the women never said anything, but that they kept silent until Jesus appeared to them.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Monday<\/p>\n<p>Acts 5:<\/p>\n<p class=\"chapter-1\"><span class=\"text Acts-5-1\">But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27062\" class=\"text Acts-5-2\"><sup class=\"versenum\">2\u00a0<\/sup>And he kept back <i>part<\/i> of the proceeds, his wife also being aware <i>of it,<\/i> and brought a certain part and laid <i>it<\/i> at the apostles\u2019 feet. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27063\" class=\"text Acts-5-3\"><sup class=\"versenum\">3\u00a0<\/sup>But Peter said, \u201cAnanias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back <i>part<\/i> of the price of the land for yourself? <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27064\" class=\"text Acts-5-4\"><sup class=\"versenum\">4\u00a0<\/sup>While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27065\" class=\"text Acts-5-5\"><sup class=\"versenum\">5\u00a0<\/sup>Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27066\" class=\"text Acts-5-6\"><sup class=\"versenum\">6\u00a0<\/sup>And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried <i>him<\/i> out, and buried <i>him.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27067\" class=\"text Acts-5-7\"><sup class=\"versenum\">7\u00a0<\/sup>Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27068\" class=\"text Acts-5-8\"><sup class=\"versenum\">8\u00a0<\/sup>And Peter answered her, \u201cTell me whether you sold the land for so much?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-5-8\">She said, \u201cYes, for so much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27069\" class=\"text Acts-5-9\"><sup class=\"versenum\">9\u00a0<\/sup>Then Peter said to her, \u201cHow is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband <i>are<\/i> at the door, and they will carry you out.\u201d <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27070\" class=\"text Acts-5-10\"><sup class=\"versenum\">10\u00a0<\/sup>Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying <i>her<\/i> out, buried <i>her<\/i> by her husband. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27071\" class=\"text Acts-5-11\"><sup class=\"versenum\">11\u00a0<\/sup>So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Tuesday<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-5-12\"><sup class=\"versenum\">12\u00a0<\/sup>And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon\u2019s Porch. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27073\" class=\"text Acts-5-13\"><sup class=\"versenum\">13\u00a0<\/sup>Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27074\" class=\"text Acts-5-14\"><sup class=\"versenum\">14\u00a0<\/sup>And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27075\" class=\"text Acts-5-15\"><sup class=\"versenum\">15\u00a0<\/sup>so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid <i>them<\/i> on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27076\" class=\"text Acts-5-16\"><sup class=\"versenum\">16\u00a0<\/sup>Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"en-NKJV-27077\" class=\"text Acts-5-17\">Imprisoned Apostles Freed<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-5-17\"><sup class=\"versenum\">17\u00a0<\/sup>Then the high priest rose up, and all those who <i>were<\/i> with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27078\" class=\"text Acts-5-18\"><sup class=\"versenum\">18\u00a0<\/sup>and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27079\" class=\"text Acts-5-19\"><sup class=\"versenum\">19\u00a0<\/sup>But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27080\" class=\"text Acts-5-20\"><sup class=\"versenum\">20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cGo, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27081\" class=\"text Acts-5-21\"><sup class=\"versenum\">21\u00a0<\/sup>And when they heard <i>that,<\/i> they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Wednesday<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-5-22\"><sup class=\"versenum\">2\u00a0<\/sup>But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27083\" class=\"text Acts-5-23\"><sup class=\"versenum\">23\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cIndeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27083a\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27083a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+5&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27083a\">a<\/a>]<\/sup> before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!\u201d <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27084\" class=\"text Acts-5-24\"><sup class=\"versenum\">24\u00a0<\/sup>Now when the high priest,<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27084b\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27084b&quot; title=&quot;See footnote b&quot;&gt;b&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+5&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27084b\">b<\/a>]<\/sup> the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27085\" class=\"text Acts-5-25\"><sup class=\"versenum\">25\u00a0<\/sup>So one came and told them, saying,<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27085c\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27085c&quot; title=&quot;See footnote c&quot;&gt;c&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+5&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27085c\">c<\/a>]<\/sup> \u201cLook, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27086\" class=\"text Acts-5-26\"><sup class=\"versenum\">26\u00a0<\/sup>Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27087\" class=\"text Acts-5-27\"><sup class=\"versenum\">27\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had brought them, they set <i>them<\/i> before the council. And the high priest asked them, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27088\" class=\"text Acts-5-28\"><sup class=\"versenum\">28\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cDid we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man\u2019s blood on us!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27089\" class=\"text Acts-5-29\"><sup class=\"versenum\">29\u00a0<\/sup>But Peter and the <i>other<\/i> apostles answered and said: \u201cWe ought to obey God rather than men. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27090\" class=\"text Acts-5-30\"><sup class=\"versenum\">30\u00a0<\/sup>The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27091\" class=\"text Acts-5-31\"><sup class=\"versenum\">31\u00a0<\/sup>Him God has exalted to His right hand <i>to be<\/i> Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27092\" class=\"text Acts-5-32\"><sup class=\"versenum\">32\u00a0<\/sup>And we are His witnesses to these things, and <i>so<\/i> also <i>is<\/i> the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Thursday<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-5-33\"><sup class=\"versenum\">33\u00a0<\/sup>When they heard <i>this,<\/i> they were furious and plotted to kill them. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27094\" class=\"text Acts-5-34\"><sup class=\"versenum\">34\u00a0<\/sup>Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27095\" class=\"text Acts-5-35\"><sup class=\"versenum\">35\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them: \u201cMen of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27096\" class=\"text Acts-5-36\"><sup class=\"versenum\">36\u00a0<\/sup>For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27097\" class=\"text Acts-5-37\"><sup class=\"versenum\">37\u00a0<\/sup>After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27098\" class=\"text Acts-5-38\"><sup class=\"versenum\">38\u00a0<\/sup>And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27099\" class=\"text Acts-5-39\"><sup class=\"versenum\">39\u00a0<\/sup>but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it\u2014lest you even be found to fight against God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27100\" class=\"text Acts-5-40\"><sup class=\"versenum\">40\u00a0<\/sup>And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten <i>them,<\/i> they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27101\" class=\"text Acts-5-41\"><sup class=\"versenum\">41\u00a0<\/sup>So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27101d\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27101d&quot; title=&quot;See footnote d&quot;&gt;d&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+5&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27101d\">d<\/a>]<\/sup> name. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27102\" class=\"text Acts-5-42\"><sup class=\"versenum\">42\u00a0<\/sup>And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus <i>as<\/i> the Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Friday<\/p>\n<p>Acts 6:<\/p>\n<p class=\"chapter-1\"><span class=\"text Acts-6-1\">Now in those days, when <i>the number of<\/i> the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27103a\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27103a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+6&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27103a\">a<\/a>]<\/sup> because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27104\" class=\"text Acts-6-2\"><sup class=\"versenum\">2\u00a0<\/sup>Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, \u201cIt is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27105\" class=\"text Acts-6-3\"><sup class=\"versenum\">3\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of <i>good<\/i> reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27106\" class=\"text Acts-6-4\"><sup class=\"versenum\">4\u00a0<\/sup>but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27107\" class=\"text Acts-6-5\"><sup class=\"versenum\">5\u00a0<\/sup>And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27108\" class=\"text Acts-6-6\"><sup class=\"versenum\">6\u00a0<\/sup>whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NKJV-27109\" class=\"text Acts-6-7\"><sup class=\"versenum\">7\u00a0<\/sup>Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Saturday<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Acts-6-8\"><sup class=\"versenum\">8\u00a0<\/sup>And Stephen, full of faith<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27110b\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27110b&quot; title=&quot;See footnote b&quot;&gt;b&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+6&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27110b\">b<\/a>]<\/sup> and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27111\" class=\"text Acts-6-9\"><sup class=\"versenum\">9\u00a0<\/sup>Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27112\" class=\"text Acts-6-10\"><sup class=\"versenum\">10\u00a0<\/sup>And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27113\" class=\"text Acts-6-11\"><sup class=\"versenum\">11\u00a0<\/sup>Then they secretly induced men to say, \u201cWe have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.\u201d <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27114\" class=\"text Acts-6-12\"><sup class=\"versenum\">12\u00a0<\/sup>And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon <i>him,<\/i> seized him, and brought <i>him<\/i> to the council. <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27115\" class=\"text Acts-6-13\"><sup class=\"versenum\">13\u00a0<\/sup>They also set up false witnesses who said, \u201cThis man does not cease to speak blasphemous<sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-NKJV-27115c\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NKJV-27115c&quot; title=&quot;See footnote c&quot;&gt;c&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts+6&amp;version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27115c\">c<\/a>]<\/sup> words against this holy place and the law; <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27116\" class=\"text Acts-6-14\"><sup class=\"versenum\">14\u00a0<\/sup>for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.\u201d <\/span> <span id=\"en-NKJV-27117\" class=\"text Acts-6-15\"><sup class=\"versenum\">15\u00a0<\/sup>And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday The reading is Mark 16:1-1 about the Myrrhbearing women who came to the tomb of Christ early on Pascha. ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE NOTES&#8230; Because Christ died so close in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3288"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3290,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions\/3290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}