Book 66 – Revelation

Acts amazon

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The Number of the Beast

The Revelation of St John the Divine is the twenty seventh, and last, book of the New Testament. It describes a series of visions in which God reveals his plans for punishing and rewarding the people of the world, through a series of elaborate and frightening events. The stories in Revelation include:

• Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia
• The Throne of God
• The Seven Seals
• Battling the Beasts
• The Seven Bowls
• The Whore of Babylon
• Judgement Day
• New Jerusalem

Book 44 – Acts

Acts amazon

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Paul’s Preaching

The Book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament. It continues the story in the Gospel of Luke from immediately after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and describes the birth of the Christian church. The stories in Acts include:

• The Decent of the Holy Ghost
• The Birth of the Christian Church
• The Martyrdom of Stephen
• Philip and the Eunuch
• The Conversion of Saul
• The Prison Earthquake
• The Shipwreck of Paul
• Paul’s Journeys in Turkey, Greece and Rome

Book 43 – John

Luke amazon

Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Doubting Thomas

The Gospel According to John is the fourth of the four books describing the life and works of Jesus of Narareth, and it is also the fourth book of the New Testament. The stories in John include:

• Turning Water into Wine
• The Woman at the Well
• The Pool of Bethesda
• Raising Lazarus
• Anointing Jesus’ Feet
• Jesus before Pilate
• The Crucifixion
• The Resurrection
• Doubting Thomas

Book 42 – Luke

Luke amazon

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Jesus Christ

The Gospel According to Luke is the third of the four books describing the life and works of Jesus of Narareth, and it is also the third book of the New Testament. The stories in Luke include:

• The Angel and the Shepherds
• The Birth of Jesus
• The Birth of John the Baptist
• Jesus as a Child
• The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
• The Transfiguration
• The Good Samaritan
• The Last Supper
• Pontius Pilate
• The Crucifixion

Book 41 – Mark

Matthew amazon

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Jesus Christ

The Gospel According to Mark is the second of the four books describing the life and works of Jesus of Narareth, and it is also the second book of the New Testament. The stories in Mark include:

• The Baptism of Jesus
• The Death of John the Baptist
• The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
• Walking on Water
• The Transfiguration
• The Last Supper
• Pontius Pilate
• The Crucifixion

Book 40 – Matthew

Matthew amazon

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.
Herod the Great

The Gospel According to Matthew is the first of the four books describing the life and works of Jesus of Narareth, and it is the first book of the New Testament. The stories in Matthew include:

• The Birth of Jesus
• The Baptism of Jesus
• The Death of John the Baptist
• The Sermon on the Mount
• The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
• Walking on Water
• The Last Supper
• Pontius Pilate
• The Crucifixion

Book 22 – The Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon amazon

Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.
The Shepherd

The Song of Solomon is the fifth of the group of five books known as the Books of Wisdom, and it is also known as the ‘Song of Songs’ which suggests that it is considered the greatest of all poems.

It is one of the most unusual books in the entire Bible in that it is not a book of law, or a description of historical events, but is instead a poem on the subject of love and sexual desire, set in the time of King Solomon of Israel.

Book 5 – Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy amazon

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
Moses

The Book of Deuteronomy is primarily a collection of speeches delivered to the Israelites by Moses on the plains of Moab on the Eastern shore of the Dead Sea, shortly before they enter the Promised Land. These include:

  • A review of their 40 year journey in the wilderness
  • The Deuteronomic Code (religious and social rules and laws)
  • The Israelites’ Covenant with God
  • The Song of Moses
  • The Death of Moses

Book 4 – Numbers

Leviticus amazon

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Moses

The Book of Numbers is a description of the Israelites’ forty years of wandering in the desert, including:

  • Assignment of military and religious responsibilities
  • Rules of conduct
  • The first trip to Canaan
  • The forty years of wandering
  • Rules for the inheritance of the Promised Land

It also includes several evocative stories, including:

  • The Shower of Quails
  • The Budding Rod
  • The Plague of Fiery Serpents
  • Balaam and his Donkey
  • The Slaughter of the Midianites

Book 3 – Leviticus

Leviticus amazon

And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Moses

The Book of Leviticus is primarily a book of God’s laws as relayed to the Israelites by Moses. These include:

  • Rules for sacrificing animals to God
  • Rules for dealing with diseases, particularly leprosy
  • Rules for sex and childbirth
  • Rules for the conduct of the tabernacle priests
  • Rules for buying and managing slaves
  • Rules for celebration of the 7 annual festivals
  • Rules for the 50 year Jubilee

It also includes several evocative stories, including:

  • The Burning of Aaron’s Sons
  • The List of Inedible Animals
  • The Scapegoat
  • The Stoning of the Blasphemer