NIrV, The Holy Bible for ESL Readers
By Zonderkidz
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About this ebook
This Bible is perfect for ESL readers. The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) is a true translation of the entire Bible that was adapted with care from the bestselling New International Version (NIV). The NIrV is written at a third grade reading level and uses short sentences and simple words. This Bible is perfect for those learning to read English. Features include: • The complete New International Reader’s Version • Presentation page for personalization and gift giving • Bible dictionary to help with unfamiliar words • “Three Ways to Read the Bible” – Explains how to read the Bible by story, subject, or person • “About the Bible” – Describes how the Bible was written and how it came to us • “Life in New Testament Times” – Describes what life was like when Jesus was on earth • “The ABCs of Salvation” – Helps explain the way of salvation
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NIrV, The Holy Bible for ESL Readers - Zonderkidz
Holy Bible for ESL Readers (NIrV)
New International Readers Version
Zondervan Publishing House
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Table of Contents
Articles and Resources
OLD TESTAMENT
NEW TESTAMENT
OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
NEW TESTAMENT
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Articles and Resources
A Word About the New International Reader’s Version
The ABCs of Salvation
5 Ways to Read the Bible
Life in New Testament Times
Dictionary
Who’s Who in the Bible
A Word About the New International Reader’s Version
God has always spoken so people would know what he meant. When God first gave the Bible to his people, he used their languages. They could understand what they read. God wants us to understand the Bible today too. So we have worked hard to make the New International Reader’s Version easy to read and understand.
What Is the New International Reader’s Version?
The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) is a new Bible translation based on the New International Version (NIV). The NIV Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) didn’t produce the NIrV. But several members of CBT worked hard to make the NIrV possible. The NIV is easy to understand and very clear. More people read the NIV than any other English Bible. We made the NIrV even easier to read and understand. We used the words of the NIV when we could. Sometimes we used shorter words. We explained words that might be hard to understand. We made the sentences shorter.
We also did some other things to make the NIrV a helpful Bible version for you. For example, sometimes a Bible verse quotes from another place in the Bible. When that happens, we put the other Bible book’s name, chapter and verse right after the verse that quotes another place.
We separated each chapter into shorter sections. We gave a title to almost every chapter. Sometimes we even gave a title to the shorter sections. That will help you understand what each chapter or section is all about.
Sometimes the writers of the Bible used more than one name for the same person or place. For example, in the New Testament the Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Gennesaret and the Sea of Tiberias. But in the NIrV we decided to call it the Sea of Galilee everywhere it appears in the New Testament. We did it because that is its most familiar name.
We also wanted to help our readers learn the names of people and places even in verses where those names don’t actually appear. For example, when we knew that the River
meant the Euphrates River,
we used those words even in verses where only the words the River
are found. When we knew that the name of Pharaoh
in a certain verse was Hophra,
we wrote his name in that verse. We did all of those things because we wanted to make the NIrV as clear as possible.
Who Will Enjoy Reading the New International Reader’s Version?
We made sure that people who are just starting to read could understand and enjoy the NIrV. Children will be able to read it and understand it. So will older people who are learning how to read or those who are reading the Bible for the first time. So will people who have a hard time understanding what they read. And so will people who use English as their second language. We hope this Bible will be just right for you.
Is the NIrV an Accurate Bible?
At the time the Bible was written, God’s people used the Hebrew and Greek languages. So the first writers of the Bible used those languages. We wanted the NIrV to say just what the first writers of the Bible said. So we kept checking what the Hebrew and Greek said.
We used the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek. Some of the first English Bibles could not use those copies because they had not yet been found. But today we can check copies that are closer in time to the ones the first Bible writers wrote. We wanted to make sure we were giving you the actual Word of God.
There are two places in the NIrV where some verses are marked with long lines. We don’t know whether the first writers of the Bible wrote those verses. They may have been added later on. You will find the long lines at Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11.
What Is Our Prayer for You?
The Lord has blessed the New International Verison in a wonderful way. He has used it to help millions of its readers. Many have put their faith in Jesus after reading it. Many others have become stronger believers because they have read it.
We hope and pray that the New International Reader’s Version will help you in the same way. If that happens, we will give God all of the glory.
Verses That Were Not Found in the Earliest Greek New Testaments
Later copies of the Greek New Testament added several verses that the earlier ones don’t have. An example is Mark 9:44. That verse is not in the oldest Greek New Testaments. So we put the number 43/44 right before Mark 9:43. The verse for Mark 9:44 is listed below.
The ABCs of Salvation
A
All people are sinners.
Romans 3:23
Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory.
B
The Bible is God’s word of love and salvation.
John 20:31
But these are written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If you believe this, you will have life because you belong to him.
C
The condition of sinners is serious.
2 Thessalonians 2:12
Many will not believe the truth. They will take pleasure in evil. They will be judged.
D
Christ died to save sinners.
Romans 5:8
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
E
Everyone who believes will have eternal life.
John 3:16
Anyone who believes in [Jesus] will not die but will have eternal life.
F
You are saved through faith.
Romans 1:17
The good news shows how God makes people right with himself. From beginning to end, becoming right with God depends on a person’s faith.
G
Good works will not save you.
Ephesians 2:8–9
God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift. It is not based on anything you have done.
H
Hell and punishment are waiting for those who don’t believe.
2 Thessalonians 1:8–9
He will punish those who don’t know God. He will punish those who don’t obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. They will be destroyed forever. They will be shut out of heaven. They will never see the glory of the Lord’s power.
I
Nothing is impossible for God.
Luke 1:37
Nothing is impossible with God.
J
There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
There is joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin.
K
If you trust God, he will keep you from sin.
Jude 24
Give praise to the One who is able to keep you from falling into sin.
L
God loves sinners and wants to save them.
John 3:16
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
M
God has mercy on unbelievers.
Romans 11:32
God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.
N
Jesus is the only name by which you can be saved.
Acts 4:12
You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given us no other name under heaven that will save us.
O
You show God you love him by obeying his commandments.
1 John 5:3
Here is what it means to love God. It means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not hard to obey.
P
God is patient with unbelievers.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. He is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.
Q
Those who don’t believe should quickly decide to follow Jesus.
2 Corinthians 6:2
I tell you, now is the time God shows his favor. Now is the day he saves.
R
Christians have a reason to rejoice.
Luke 10:20
Be glad that your names are written in heaven.
S
The Bible, the Scriptures, can teach you how to be saved.
2 Timothy 3:15
You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.
T
You should give thanks to God for the wonderful gift of salvation.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Let us give thanks to God for his gift. It is so great that no one can tell how wonderful it really is!
U
The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s Word.
1 Corinthians 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world. We have received the Spirit who is from God. The Spirit helps us understand what God has freely given us.
V
Jesus has gained victory over death for you.
1 Corinthians 15:54
What does not last will be dressed with what lasts forever. What dies will be dressed with what does not die. Then what is written will come true. It says, Death has been swallowed up. It has lost the battle.
W
Whoever calls on Jesus will be saved.
Acts 2:21
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Y
God loves you so much he calls you his child.
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has given us so freely! Now we can be called children of God. And that’s what we really are!
5 Ways to Read the Bible
Why should you read the Bible?
A man builds a big boat to get away from a flood. A slave becomes a ruler. Angels visit common people. A man walks on the water. A blind person sees again. A man chooses to die for his people. All of these stories are in the Bible. The Bible also tells us about Adam and Eve and how the world began. You can read about Abraham and Isaac and God’s words to them. You will find out about Peter and Paul and how the church began. All these things are in this book.
The Bible is more than just a big book of stories, however. The Bible tells you how to live as God’s child. The Bible tells you God’s words of love. You will get to know God better as you read the Bible. As you get to know him better, you will see how much God loves you. Your love for him will grow too.
How should you begin?
Take some time every day. Make it the same time every day, if you can. Find a quiet and comfortable place.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you read. He knows that you want to read the Bible. He knows that you want to learn.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything you read the first time. You may have to read the same verse many times. You may find words you do not know. In the back of the Bible is a dictionary. It will tell you what the words mean.
Use a small notebook. Write down what you learn from your reading. The reading plans in this Bible give some ideas about what to write in your notebook.
Make sure you have a plan. A plan will help you as you read. The next few pages give five ways to read the Bible. Pick the reading plan that seems best to you. As you finish that plan then you can try another one. You will see many different parts of the Bible if you follow these plans. Your study time will be interesting and helpful.
1. READ A STORY AT A TIME.
You can read the Bible story by story. When you read a story from the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
• Who are the main people in the story?
• What are the main things that happen in the story?
• What is this story talking about?
• What can I learn from this story?
Use your notebook. Write down the name of the story. Write down your answers to the questions. Here are some Bible stories you may want to read.
2. READ A SUBJECT AT A TIME.
You can read the Bible subject by subject. Read about a subject. Write down in your notebook what you think about the subject. Look the word up in a Bible dictionary to learn more. Here are some subjects you may want to read about.
3. READ ABOUT A PERSON AT A TIME.
You can read the Bible by reading about its people. In your notebook, write down the name of the person you want to read about. Read the story about that person. Write down one thing you learned about that person’s life. Here is a list of people from the Bible. Get to know them as you read about them.
4. READ A BOOK AT A TIME.
You can read the Bible by reading through one book at a time. Read the introduction that comes before each book. Then read one section of the text at a time. Ask yourself these questions:
• What are the main things that happen in the story?
• What are the main words in the story?
• What is this story talking about?
• What can I learn from this Bible story?
Use your notebook. Write down what you have read. Write down what you learned. Use a dictionary to look up hard words. You will find one in the back of this Bible. The list below shows all the books of the Bible. Put a mark next to each book as you finish it.
5. READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE.
The list below is a special reading plan. It will help you read the whole Bible in three years. Some plans tell you to read three chapters each day. Some people find this very hard to do. This plan asks you to read only one chapter each day. Some days you will read two short chapters. It will take you three years to finish this plan. Be sure to use your notebook. Write down the things that you learn as you read.
GENESIS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10—11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40 ___ 41 ___ 42 ___ 43 ___ 44 ___ 45 ___ 46 ___ 47 ___ 48 ___ 49 ___ 50
MATTHEW 1—9
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9
EXODUS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10—11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40
MATTHEW 10—20
___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20
LEVITICUS 1—14
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11—12 ___ 13 ___ 14
MATTHEW 21—28
___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28
LEVITICUS 15—27
___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27
MARK 1—8
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8
NUMBERS
___ 1—2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36
MARK 9—16
___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15—16
DEUTERONOMY 1—17
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17
LUKE 1—8
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8
DEUTERONOMY 18—34
___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34
LUKE 9—16
___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16
JOSHUA
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12—13 ___ 14—15 ___ 16—17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24
LUKE 17—24
___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24
JUDGES
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21
JOHN 1—7
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7
RUTH
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4
1 SAMUEL 1—15
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15
JOHN 8—14
___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14
1 SAMUEL 16—31
___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31
JOHN 15—21
___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21
2 SAMUEL
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24
ACTS 1—7
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7
1 KINGS 1—11
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4—5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11
ACTS 8—14
___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14
1 KINGS 12—22
___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22
ACTS 15—21
___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21
2 KINGS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25
ACTS 22—28
___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28
1 CHRONICLES 1—14
___ 1—9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14
ROMANS 1—8
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8
1 CHRONICLES 15—29
___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23—27 ___ 28 ___ 29
ROMANS 9—16
___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12—13 ___ 14 ___ 15—16
2 CHRONICLES 1—18
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16—17 ___ 18
1 CORINTHIANS 1—9
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4—5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8—9
2 CHRONICLES 19—36
___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26—27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36
1 CORINTHIANS 10—16
___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16
EZRA
___ 1—2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10
NEHEMIAH
___ 1 ___ 2—3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13
2 CORINTHIANS
___ 1 ___ 2—3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8—9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12—13
ESTHER
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6—7 ___ 8 ___ 9—10
JOB 1—21
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21
GALATIANS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5—6
JOB 22—42
___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25—26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40 ___ 41 ___ 42
EPHESIANS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6
PSALMS 1—40
___ 1—2 ___ 3—4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11—12 ___ 13—14 ___ 15—16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20—21 ___ 22 ___ 23—24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28—29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40
PHILIPPIANS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4
PSALMS 41—80
___ 41 ___ 42—43 ___ 44 ___ 45 ___ 46—47 ___ 48 ___ 49 ___ 50 ___ 51 ___ 52 ___ 53—54 ___ 55 ___ 56 ___ 57 ___ 58 ___ 59 ___ 60—61 ___ 62 ___ 63—64 ___ 65 ___ 66 ___ 67 ___ 68 ___ 69 ___ 70 ___ 71 ___ 72 ___ 73 ___ 74 ___ 75 ___ 76 ___ 77 ___ 78 ___ 79 ___ 80
COLOSSIANS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4
PSALMS 81—121
___ 81 ___ 82 ___ 83 ___ 84 ___ 85 ___ 86 ___ 87 ___ 88 ___ 89 ___ 90 ___ 91 ___ 92—93 ___ 94 ___ 95 ___ 96 ___ 97 ___ 98—99 ___ 100—101 ___ 102 ___ 103 ___ 104 ___ 105 ___ 106 ___ 107 ___ 108 ___ 109 ___ 110—111 ___ 112 ___ 113 ___ 114 ___ 115 ___ 116—117 ___ 118 ___ 119:1—48 ___ 119:49—96 ___ 119:97—144 ___ 119:145—176 ___ 120—121
1 THESSALONIANS
___ 1—2 ___ 3—4 ___ 5
2 THESSALONIANS
___ 1—2 ___ 3
PSALMS 122—150
___ 122—123 ___ 124—125 ___ 126—128 ___ 129—130 ___ 131—132 ___ 133—134 ___ 135 ___ 136 ___ 137—138 ___ 139 ___ 140 ___ 141—142 ___ 143 ___ 144 ___ 145 ___ 146 ___ 147 ___ 148 ___ 149—150
PROVERBS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31
1 TIMOTHY
___ 1—2 ___ 3—4 ___ 5 ___ 6
ECCLESIASTES
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12
SONG OF SONGS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8
2 TIMOTHY
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4
ISAIAH 1—36
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4—5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19—20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36
TITUS
___ 1 ___ 2—3
ISAIAH 37—66
___ 37 ___ 38—39 ___ 40 ___ 41 ___ 42 ___ 43 ___ 44 ___ 45 ___ 46 ___ 47 ___ 48 ___ 49 ___ 50 ___ 51 ___ 52 ___ 53 ___ 54 ___ 55 ___ 56 ___ 57 ___ 58 ___ 59 ___ 60 ___ 61 ___ 62 ___ 63 ___ 64 ___ 65 ___ 66
PHILEMON
___ Philemon
JEREMIAH 1—26
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24 ___ 25 ___ 26
HEBREWS 1—7
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3—4 ___ 5—6 ___ 7
JEREMIAH 27—52
___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40 ___ 41 ___ 42 ___ 43 ___ 44—45 ___ 46 ___ 47 ___ 48 ___ 49 ___ 50 ___ 51 ___ 52
HEBREWS 8—13
___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13
LAMENTATIONS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5
EZEKIEL 1—24
___ 1 ___ 2—3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14 ___ 15 ___ 16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22 ___ 23 ___ 24
JAMES
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3—4 ___ 5
EZEKIEL 25—48
___ 25 ___ 26 ___ 27 ___ 28 ___ 29 ___ 30 ___ 31 ___ 32 ___ 33 ___ 34 ___ 35 ___ 36 ___ 37 ___ 38 ___ 39 ___ 40 ___ 41 ___ 42 ___ 43 ___ 44 ___ 45 ___ 46 ___ 47 ___ 48
1 PETER
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4—5
DANIEL
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12
2 PETER
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3
HOSEA
___ 1 ___ 2—3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6—7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11—12 ___ 13—14
1 JOHN
___ 1—2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5
JOEL
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3
AMOS
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9
OBADIAH
___ Obadiah
JONAH
___ 1—2 ___ 3—4
2 and 3 JOHN
___ 2 John ___ 3 John
MICAH
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___ 6 ___ 7
NAHUM
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3
JUDE
___ Jude
HABAKKUK
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3
ZEPHANIAH
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3
REVELATION 1—7
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4—5 ___ 6 ___ 7
HAGGAI
___ 1 ___ 2
REVELATION 8—14
___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10—11 ___ 12 ___ 13 ___ 14
ZECHARIAH
___ 1 ___ 2—3 ___ 4—5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 ___ 11 ___ 12—13 ___ 14
MALACHI
___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3—4
REVELATION 15—22
___ 15—16 ___ 17 ___ 18 ___ 19 ___ 20 ___ 21 ___ 22
Life in New Testament Times
Many years ago there were trails that came into the land of Israel. They came from the east and from the north. Other trails came from Egypt in the south.
Traders used these trails to travel from one place to another. They traveled mostly by camel. They bought and sold goods along the way. The trails went through Israel. But they also met in Israel. It was almost like Israel was the center of the world.
In a way, Israel was the center of the world. Jesus was born there. All of the things that happened in Bible times seemed to say, Israel is a special land.
Places of Worship
The beautiful temple stood in the city of Jerusalem. It was the center of worship for the Jews. Herod rebuilt the temple not long before Jesus was born. The temple was on a hill. Its shining white marble walls could be seen all over the city. Large stone gates opened on all four sides. Jesus called this temple his Father’s house (John 2:16).
Each Jewish town also had a smaller meeting place. These were called synagogues.
The leader of the synogogue studied the Old Testament and the Jewish laws. He then could teach the people.
On the inside synagogues looked much like some of our churches. The people sat on benches. The leader stood on a stage. A special box held the scrolls of the books of the Bible.
On the Sabbath day the people came to the synagogue to worship. The leader read a verse to call the people to worship. Then there were readings of thanksgiving and praise. Someone would lead in prayer. After that, the leader might ask someone to read from the Bible. Any member who was able to teach could give the sermon. The service was closed with a blessing.
The Laws of God
God gave the Jews the Ten Commandments and many other laws at Mount Sinai. Many Jews thought that trying to keep the law was the only way to please God. They began to add many of their own laws to God’s laws. They began to see themselves as very good people.
Jesus told the Jews that they were going in the wrong direction. They were so busy doing many little things that they were forgetting big things that were more important. They were forgetting to love others. They were forgetting to take care of the poor. They were forgetting to love God.
The Sabbath Day
God gave the people of Israel the Sabbath as a day of rest. On the seventh day of every week they rested from their work. They offered special sacrifices.
The scribes and Pharisees later added hundreds of laws about how people should keep the Sabbath day holy. Then the people forgot that God gave the Sabbath day to be a special day. Instead they just worried about obeying all the rules.
On the Sabbath day people could not travel very far. They could not carry anything from one place to another. They were not supposed to spit on the ground. If they did they might be plowing a little row in the dirt. And that would be work! If a hen laid an egg on the Sabbath, they were not supposed to eat that egg. The hen had worked on the Sabbath to lay it.
When Jesus and his disciples picked some grain and ate it on the Sabbath, the Pharisees said they were working. When Jesus healed sick people on the Sabbath, the Pharisees said he was breaking the law. They got angry and wanted to kill him.
Religious Groups
The most important religious groups in New Testament times were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Sadducees were rich and powerful men. The high priest, the chief priests and rich businessmen all belonged to the Sadducees. The Sadducees were against any new group that tried to change Jewish life. That’s why they were against Jesus and his disciples. The Sadducees also turned away from many of the teachings of the Pharisees. They did not believe that people would rise from the dead. They did not believe in angels or demons. They did not keep all the laws of the Pharisees. They only kept the law of Moses.
The Pharisees added hundreds of laws to the law God gave Moses. They were mostly interested in keeping all these laws. Many of the Pharisees forgot God’s other laws. They were proud of how good they were, but they did not love other people. However, there were also Pharisees who truly loved God and others and tried to do what was right.
Seventy of the most important Pharisees and Sadducees made up the Jewish high court. This court was called the Sanhedrin. The high priest led the court. The Romans let this court decide what to do when someone had broken a Jewish law. But this court did not have the power to put anyone to death. If the Sanhedrin thought someone should die, they had to bring the person to the Roman courts.
The Roman Empire
Rome had begun to grow larger and stronger before Christ was born. Wars were fought and many new lands were added to the Roman Empire. This empire was very large. It included Spain and Germany, North Africa, Asia Minor, Syria and Israel.
Many good things happened because of Roman rule. There was peace among all of the different countries in the empire. The Romans also set up good government everywhere. They built roads for safe and easy travel. Many of the people were able to speak and understand the same language–Greek.
The Romans did not know that all these things would make it easier for the gospel to spread to many lands. They did not know that God had prepared the way for Jesus and the spread of the good news. Later Jesus’ disciples traveled more easily to far-away lands because there was peace and because there were good roads. They could bring the gospel in the Greek language to many people in many areas.
Tax Collectors
The Jews hated the Romans. They believed the Romans had no right to rule over them. They believed the Romans had no right to take their money for taxes. They didn’t like the soldiers who lived in their country. The Jews also hated the Romans because they tried to change the Jewish way of life. The Romans wanted everyone to act like Romans. The Jews were looking for the Messiah. They thought he would become their king and would free them from the Romans.
The Jews hated tax collectors even more than Romans. Many tax collectors were Jews who were working for Rome. Many tax collectors were not honest. They took more money than they were supposed to take. They were cheating their own people to help the enemy.
Jesus often talked and ate with tax collectors. Matthew was a tax collector. So was Zacchaeus. Both became followers of Jesus.
Everyday Life
Life in New Testament times was much different from life today. It was a simple life. Most people did not have any extras. In fact, they often had just enough to live. The people worked hard, and children had to share in the work.
The people built their houses of mud bricks that were hardened by laying them out in the sun. Sometimes the front part of the house had no roof over it. This part was like a small yard. Behind it was a living room with small bedrooms at the back. The floor of the house was of hard and smooth clay. Builders made the roof of heavy wooden beams with boards laid across them. They covered the boards with a mixture of mud and straw. This flat roof was a good place to work or to sit. Sometimes people slept on the roof on hot nights. Usually a ladder or sometimes steps led up to the roof.
Most people had very little furniture–just some wooden stools, a low wooden table and some sleeping mats. There was a place for fire and sometimes a small clay oven for baking bread. There was no chimney, so the smoke had to find its way out of the small, high window openings. Some houses had wooden doors. Others had doorways covered with grass mats or cloth.
Food
The people ate foods like milk and cheese, grapes, figs, olives, honey and barley cakes, eggs, chicken, fish, goat meat, beans, cucumbers and onions.
The first meal of the day was usually bread and cheese. Sometimes a family would eat a light meal at noon. Again, bread was the main part. The people had their large meal of the day in the evening. They usually ate bread and fish, fruit and vegetables. The common people often ate meat only on very special days.
Clothing
The clothing of New Testament times was simple. Besides underclothing, the people wore robes with a belt tied around the waist. Over the robe they often wore a cape. Children usually had shorter, knee-length clothing. They sometimes wore a kind of pull-over shirt. Women decorated their clothing with brightly colored weaving and sewing.
The people wore sandals without socks. Their feet were often dusty from walking on their dirt streets and roads. They washed their feet often.
Work
The people did many different kinds of work. Some were farmers and builders and makers of pottery. Others were bakers and doctors and teachers. There were watchmen who guarded the cities. There were workers in leather and workers in metal. Jesus’ father was a carpenter. Jesus also knew about herding sheep. Peter and James and John were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. There were scribes who wrote letters and copied the laws and the books of the Bible.
Women had to work hard in their homes. The first thing they would do in the morning was make the bread for the day. They would grind the grain into flour, then make dough into loaves of bread and bake them. The women also had to carry water from the well and get wood for the fire. They made all the clothes for the family, spinning and weaving their own cloth out of flax and wool.
Parents expected their children to help with the work. Girls helped their mothers with all the household work. Boys helped their fathers in their work and were expected to follow the same trade as their fathers.
Schools
Parents taught their children Bible verses when they were still very young. They learned verses from the law and stories from the Old Testament.
When boys were five or six years old, they went to school. The leader of the synagogue taught them. For the first four years, they studied mostly the first five books of the Bible. By then they knew the laws of God very well. They also learned how to read and write Hebrew. For the next several years they studied other books of the Bible and other Jewish writings.
When a Jewish boy reached the age of twelve or thirteen, he was considered to be a man. The boy and his family and friends celebrated with a special ceremony and often a party. Most boys left school at this age.
Conclusion
The time of the New Testament was the best time for Jesus to come. The people were looking and waiting for him. The safe roads made it much easier for early Christians to travel to spread the good news of the Savior. The common language made it much easier for them to tell others about Jesus. People were eager to hear about him. God had everything planned and ready.
Dictionary
A
Abyss
The deep pit where Satan and evil spirits will be held in chains.
adultery
1. Having sex with someone who is not the person’s husband or wife. 2. Not being faithful or true to God.
altar
A table or raised place where a sacrifice was offered to God.
Amen
A Hebrew word that means it is true or let it be true.
angel
A spirit who is God’s helper and tells people God’s words. See also cherubim.
anoint
To pour olive oil on people’s heads so God will heal them.
anointed
To be set apart as God’s special servant.
apostle
1. One of the twelve men who were with Jesus and who later taught others about him. 2. Someone who teaches others about God.
Aramaic
The language many people spoke in Jesus’ time.
ark of the covenant
A large gold chest in which the tablets of the covenant were kept.
armor
Special clothing people wore to help keep them safe in battle.
Asherah poles
Sacred wooden poles used to worship the Canaanite mother-goddess and the goddess of the sea.
B
Baal
The name of the main Canaanite god.
Babel
A place where people tried to build a tower up to God.
Babylon
1. The capital city of Babylonia. 2. A word that stands for any powerful, sinful city.
baptize
To sprinkle, pour on or cover a person with water as a sign that sin is washed away.
Beelzebub
Another name for Satan.
blessed
1. Made happy. 2. Helped by God.
C
cast lots
Something done to find out what God wants. It is like drawing straws to see who will go first.
chariot
A two-wheeled cart pulled by war horses.
cherubim
Heavenly creatures who serve God. See also angel.
chief priest
See priest.
Christ
A Greek word that means the Anointed One. It means the same thing as the Hebrew word Messiah. See also Jesus.
circumcision
Cutting off the loose fold of skin at the end of the male sex organ.
city of refuge
A place of safety for someone who had killed another person by accident.
clean
Something that God accepts.
clean animals
Animals that God said were good to eat or give as offerings.
commandment
A law that God gives.
concubine
A woman who belonged to a man but was not his wife under the law.
Council
The most important Jewish court of law in Jesus’ time.
covenant
A treaty between two persons or groups in which promises are made.
crucify
To put people to death by nailing them to crosses.
cud
Food that is brought up from an animal’s stomach to its mouth so it can be chewed again.
curse
A prayer or spoken command for evil or harm to come on someone.
D
deacons
Leaders of the church who serve other people.
demon
An evil spirit.
devil
See Satan.
disciples
Followers who believe and do what their teacher says.
divorce
The way for a man and woman by law to put an end to their marriage.
dysentery
A sickness that produces watery bowel movements.
E
Eden
The place where God planted a beautiful garden for Adam and Eve.
elders
The leaders who make decisions for a church, town or nation.
eternal
Forever. Without beginning or end.
eunuch
An important royal helper. A man whose sex organs have been altered so he can’t have children.
evil spirit
One of the devil’s helpers.
F
famine
A time when there is not enough food to eat.
fast
To go for a time without eating, sometimes also without drinking.
Feast of Booths
A feast when the Israelites celebrated the harvest of their crops. They lived in tents for eight days.
Feast of Dedication
See Feast of Hanukkah.
Feast of Hanukkah
A feast when the Jews celebrated the time when the temple was made pure and set apart for God again.
Feast of Harvest
A day at the end of the grain harvest when Israel gave thanks to God.
Feast of Passover
See Passover.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
A time to remember when God set the Israelites free from Egypt. It was celebrated along with the Feast of Passover.
fig
A sweet fruit that grows on trees in warm countries near the sea.
G
glorify
To give praise to. To honor. To worship.
glory
Praise. Honor. Greatness.
God
The Creator and Ruler of the world. The One who saves his people.
grace
God’s kindness to human beings. It is given without being earned.
H
hallelujah
A Hebrew word that means praise the Lord.
Hanukkah
See Feast of Hanukkah.
harvest
Gathering a crop when it is ready.
heaven
1. God’s home. 2. The sky.
Hebrew
1. Another name for a person in the family line of Abraham. 2. The language spoken by the people of Israel.
Herod
The first name of five men who ruled over Israel for the Roman emperor.
high places
Places where people worshiped other gods.
high priest
The one in charge of everything and everybody at the holy tent and the temple.
holy
Set apart for God. Clean. Pure.
Holy Bread
Twelve loaves of bread placed in the Holy Room in the holy tent each week as an offering.
Holy Spirit
God’s Spirit who lives in the hearts of believers and works in their lives.
holy tent
The place the people of Israel used for worship when they were wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt. Years later Solomon built the first temple for worship.
homosexual
Someone who has sex with another person of the same sex.
hosanna
A Hebrew word that means please save us now. Later came to be used in praising God.
hymn
A song of praise to God.
hyssop
A plant that was used to sprinkle water or blood to make something clean and pure.
I
incense
Spices that give a pleasing smell when they are burned.
Israel
1. The new name God gave to Jacob. 2. The nation that came from the family line of Jacob. 3. The northern tribes that separated from Judah to serve their own king.
J
Jesus
The Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means the Lord saves. See also Christ.
Jews
What the people of Israel were called beginning late in the 6th century B.C.
Jubilee
A special year that was celebrated every 50 years in Israel. No crops could be planted. Any money that was owed was forgiven. Slaves were set free. Property was given back to its first owner.
judge
1. To decide if something is good or bad. 2. A person who decides what is right and wrong in matters of law.
K
kingdom
An area or group of people ruled by a king.
L
law
Rules about what is right and wrong.
Law, the
The first five books of the Bible.
Levites
Men from the tribe of Levi who took care of the holy tent or the temple.
locust
A type of grasshopper that eats and destroys crops.
Lord
A title for God or Christ that shows respect.
lots
See cast lots.
M
manger
A food box for animals.
manna
Special food from heaven that God gave to the people of Israel in the desert.
mercy
More kindness and forgiveness than people are worthy to receive.
millstone
A heavy rock used to crush grain to make flour.
miracle
Something very special and wonderful that only God can do.
miraculous signs
Things that are very wonderful and special that only God can do and that point us to him.
N
Nazirites
People who were set apart to God and promised to do something special for him.
O
oath
A special promise made in the sight of God.
offering
Something people give to God as a part of worship.
oxen
Large cattle that are used on the farm because of their size and great strength.
P
Passover
A feast that was celebrated every year to remember the time when God set the people of Israel free from Egypt. God passed over
their homes if they were marked with blood on the doorways.
pasture
Grasslands for cattle.
Pentecost
A feast that was celebrated 50 days after Passover. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to live in Christians.
Pharaoh
The title of any ruler of early Egypt.
Pharisees
A group of Jews who were very careful to follow God’s laws and their own rules about God’s laws.
Philistines
Powerful enemies of the Israelites during Saul and David’s time.
pillar
A tall, upright post that was used to help hold up a building.
pierce
To poke through with a sharp instrument.
pillar of cloud
A cloud the Lord used to lead the people of Israel by day when they were in the desert.
pillar of fire
A column of fire the Lord used to lead the people of Israel by night when they were in the desert.
plague
1. Any sickness that kills many people. 2. Anything that causes a lot of suffering or loss.
plumb line
A string that has a weight tied to the end of it. It is used to tell whether a wall is straight.
pomegranate
A round fruit that has a tough skin, many seeds and a juicy red center.
pregnant
Carrying a baby inside a woman’s body until the baby is born.
Preparation Day
The day before the Sabbath day. People spent this day getting ready for the Sabbath.
priest
A person who served in the holy tent or the temple. He gave his own as well as other people’s offerings and prayers to God.
prophecy
A message God gives to his people through a messenger.
prophesy
1. To give a message from God. 2. To tell what the future will be.
prophet
A person who receives messages from God and tells them to other people.
prostitutes
People who get paid to let others have sex with them.
proverbs
Wise sayings.
psalms
Poems or songs of praise or prayer.
purification
Making clean or pure.
Purim
A feast that celebrated a time when God helped Queen Esther keep the Jews from being killed.
R
Rabbi
A teacher of Jewish law.
Raca
An insult that means someone is foolish.
Redeemer
The One who paid the price to set people free from sin. See also Jesus.
resurrection
Coming back to life after being dead.
right hand
The place of honor, power and authority.
S
Sabbath
The seventh day of the week. The day of rest and worship.
sacred
Set apart for God. Holy.
sacrifice
1. To give something to God as an offering. 2. Something that is given to God as an offering.
Sadducees
A group of Jewish leaders who followed only the first five books of the Bible. They did not believe anyone could come back from the dead.
salvation
Being set free from the guilt of sin. Being saved from the power of evil.
Sanhedrin
The most important Jewish court of law in Jesus’ time.
Satan
God’s most powerful enemy. Also called the devil.
saved
Set free from danger or sin.
Savior
The One who sets us free from our sins. See also Jesus.
Scripture
God’s written Word. Also called the Bible.
scroll
A long sheet of paper or animal skin for writing. It was rolled up on two sticks for storage.
seal
1. An object like a ring with a drawing or a pattern cut into it. 2. A mark made by pressing this object into clay, wax or paper.
seer
Another word for a prophet.
shepherd
A person who takes care of sheep.
sinner
A person who does things God does not like.
Son of Man
A name Jesus gave to himself to show he is God’s anointed prophet, priest and king.
soul
A person’s entire spiritual being.
spiritual
Having to do with matters that are connected with God and the Bible.
staff
A stick a shepherd uses to lean on and to take care of sheep.
synagogue
A Jewish place of worship and teaching.
T
tambourine
A hand-held drum with metal pieces around the edge. It rattles when shaken or tapped.
tassels
Hanging groups of thread that are tied together at one end. Usually sewn to the edge of a rug or piece of clothing.
temple
A building where people worship.
tempt
To try to get someone to do something wrong.
threshing floor
The place where heads of grain are beaten or stepped on to separate the grain from the stem.
tomb
A place to bury dead bodies. It was usually a cave with a big stone door.
treason
Being unfaithful to one’s country by helping the enemy.
Twelve, the
The men Jesus chose as his first disciples. See also disciples.
U
unclean
Something that God does not accept.
unleavened bread
A flat bread made without yeast.
Urim and Thummin
Objects that were put into the chest cloth of the high priest. He used them to make decisions for the people of Israel.
V
vineyard
A place where grapes grow.
virgin
A woman who has never had sex with a man.
vision
Something that God puts in a person’s mind. Something like a dream, but the person is usually awake.
W
wafer
A thin cracker.
widow
A woman whose husband has died.
winepress
A place where juice is pressed out of grapes.
wisdom
Understanding that comes from God. Wise thinking.
Y
yeast
Something added to dough to make bread rise.
yoke
A wooden board that fits over the necks of two animals, usually oxen. It holds them together.
Z
Zealot
A Jewish person who wanted to fight and get rid of the Roman rulers.
Zion
1. The city of Jerusalem. 2. The hill on which King David’s house and the temple once stood.
Who’s Who in the Bible
Aaron
Aaron was the brother of Moses. He was the first high priest of Israel.
You can read about Aaron in Exodus 4:14–17 and Exodus 28:1—29:46.
Abraham
God told Abraham to move away from his home to a new land. It was hard, but Abraham did what God said.
You can read about Abraham in Genesis 12—23 and 25:1–11.
Adam
Adam was the first person. God made him from the dust of the earth.
You can read about Adam in Genesis 2:4—3:24.
Agrippa
Agrippa was a Roman ruler who wanted to hear for himself what the famous prisoner Paul had to say.
You can read about Agrippa in Acts 25:22—26:3.
Amos
Amos was a shepherd who spoke God’s words. The Jews did not do what God said. Amos told the Jews that God would punish them.
You can read the book that Amos wrote to find out more about him.
Ananias and Sapphira
Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter about land they had sold.
You can read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1–10.
Andrew
Andrew took his brother Simon Peter to see Jesus. Andrew became a disciple of Jesus.
You can read about Andrew in John 1:40–42.