Tuesday in Advent

9Verse 9. After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10Verse 10. “You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.” 11Verse 11. As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. 12Verse 12. As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two. 13Verse 13. Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14Verse 14. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over. 15Verse 15. When the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. 16Verse 16. “Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied. 17Verse 17. But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18Verse 18. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” 19Verse 19. Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.” 20Verse 20. “Bring me a new bowl,” he replied, “and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him, 21Verse 21. and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness. ’” 22Verse 22. And the waters there have been healthy to this day, according to the word spoken by Elisha.

17Verse 17. And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18Verse 18. But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. 19Verse 19. Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 20Verse 20. that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. 21Verse 21. Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. 22Verse 22. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. 23Verse 23. Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people. ’ 24Verse 24. Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days. 25Verse 25. And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ 26Verse 26. When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” 1Verse 1. While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2Verse 2. greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3Verse 3. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day. 4Verse 4. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.