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JULY 16
not Christians.These disciples did not realize Jesus of Nazareth was the One to whom John’s bap-
tism pointed. Paul gave them instruction not on how to receive the Spirit, but about Jesus Christ.
“They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 5).They believed Paul’s presentation of the
gospel and came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (2:41). Although required of all Christians,
baptism does not save.
Then “Paul…laid hands on them” (v. 6).This signified their inclusion into the church. Apostles
were also present when the church was born (chap. 2), and when the Samaritans (chap. 8) and
Gentiles (chap. 10) were included. In each case, God’s purpose was to emphasize the unity of the
church. And they “spoke with tongues and prophesied.”This served as proof that they were part of
the church.They also needed tangible evidence that the Holy Spirit now indwelt them, since they
had not heard that He had come (v. 2).

July 16
28:9 Oded. An otherwise unknown prophet,
with the same name as an earlier Oded
2 Chronicles 28:1–29:36
(15:1,8). The prophet said that Israel had won
Ahaz was twenty years old when he the victory because God was judging Judah.
28 became king, and he reigned sixteen But he protested the viciousness of the killing
years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what and the effort to enslave them (v. 10) and
was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father warned them of God’s wrath for such action (v.
2
David had done. For he walked in the ways of 11). Amazingly the apostate and hostile
the kings of Israel, and made molded images Israelites complied with the prophet’s warn-
ing (vv. 12–15).
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for the Baals. He burned incense in the Valley
of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children
in the fire, according to the abominations of Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves;
the nations whom the LORD had cast out before
but are you not also guilty before the LORD
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the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and your God? Now hear me, therefore, and
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burned incense on the high places, on the return the captives, whom you have taken
hills, and under every green tree. captive from your brethren, for the fierce
5 Therefore the LORD his God delivered him wrath of the LORD is upon you.”
into the hand of the king of Syria. They de- 12 Then some of the heads of the children of
feated him, and carried away a great multitude Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan,
of them as captives, and brought them to Da- Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah
mascus. Then he was also delivered into the the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of
hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him Hadlai, stood up against those who came from
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with a great slaughter. For Pekah the son of the war, and said to them, “You shall not bring
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Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thou- the captives here, for we already have offend-
sand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, be- ed the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and
cause they had forsaken the LORD God of their to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is
fathers. Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, fierce wrath against Israel.” So the armed men
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killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the left the captives and the spoil before the lead-
officer over the house, and Elkanah who was ers and all the assembly. Then the men who
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second to the king. And the children of Israel were designated by name rose up and took the
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carried away captive of their brethren two captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who
hundred thousand women, sons, and daugh- were naked among them, dressed them and
ters; and they also took away much spoil from gave them sandals, gave them food and drink,
them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. and anointed them; and they let all the feeble
9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to
name was Oded; and he went out before the their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees.
army that came to Samaria, and said to them: Then they returned to Samaria.
“Look, because the LORD God of your fathers 16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the
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was angry with Judah, He has delivered them kings of Assyria to help him. For again the
into your hand; but you have killed them in a Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and car-
rage that reaches up to heaven. And now you ried away captives. The Philistines also had
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propose to force the children of Judah and invaded the cities of the lowland and of the
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