Daily Bible Reading Day 173

Ester 1-3;  Acts 5:1-16.  Esther opens with the king of Persia (Ahasuerus) throwing a big banquet. His queen (Vashti) was throwing a banquet for the women. Ahasuerus wanted Vashti to come display her beauty before those at his banquet. She refuses. So the king, on advice of his wise men, replaces her. They don't want the women of the kingdom to think they run the place. So young women are sought to replace her. They are pampered and given what they need to make themselves beautiful for the king. Esther has been raised by her uncle Mordecai and is placed in the palace for preparation to see if she is the one. Mordecai tells Esther not to reveal her ethnic background. Esther spends her time with the king. She pleases the king and is chosen as the replacement for Vashti.  Meanwhile Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king and reports it. The two men are hanged. The incident is recorded. The king advances a man named Haman. Haman loves his position and expects everyone to bow to him. Mordecai refuses. Haman discovers Mordecai is Jewish and plots to kill all the Jews. He uses his position to convince the king that's it's best to destroy the Jews. So the plot becomes law and a day is set for the destruction of the Jews.

The church is growing but there is trouble in the camp. A man and woman plot to look like they are righteous and generous but you can't escape the all-seeing eye of God. They sell their land and pretend to give all the proceeds to the apostles. Peter confronts the man and he dies. Then Peter confronts the wife and she dies. Great fear comes over the church. The church continues to grow. The church finds favor with the people. The people bring their sick to be healed. They even try to bring their sick in contact with Peter's shadow.