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A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping,[fn] and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they are no more.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.
“Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
“Consider the birds of the sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?
“And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don't labor or spin thread.
When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick,
Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed.
Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples
“What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.
When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
“And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
“If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
“How can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
“Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn't deep.
He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.
“And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
“ ‘No,' he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them.
“Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.' ”
“It's the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it's taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”
“and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones.
He said, “Come.”
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.
After dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.[fn]
Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you're not thinking about God's concerns[fn] but human concerns.”
When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? ”
“Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.
“What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?
“Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
“When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.
Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don't try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”[fn]
“If you want to be perfect,”[fn] Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ” they were indignant
“The king[fn] was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.
“Caesar's,” they said to him.
Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
“Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks[fn] under her wings, but you were not willing!
“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
“the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.
“The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I've earned five more talents.'
“The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.'
“All the nations[fn] will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you've heard the blasphemy.
Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
So he threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
The chief priests took the silver and said, “It's not permitted to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.”
Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took[fn] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites,
After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God! ”
As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of[fn] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order.
and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them.
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
“But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
“And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
“but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness[fn] of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
“And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”
had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.
“For it doesn't go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean).
He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre.[fn] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice.
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”
So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man's ears and spitting, he touched his tongue.
And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything? ”
But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God's concerns[fn] but human concerns.”
He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.
When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ”
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.
Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.[fn]
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”[fn]
Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage.
After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.
They led him out to crucify him.
Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
“For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.
When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.
He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
“Master,” Simon replied, “we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll let down the nets.”[fn]
So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note — your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.
“Woe to you[fn]
when all people speak well of you,
for this is the way their ancestors
used to treat the false prophets.
“Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don't ask for them back.
“And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.
When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.
So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that
Looking they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.
For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead,
“Let these words sink in:[fn] The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
“Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't move from house to house.
“He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.
“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
“And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
“If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
“But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons[fn] he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.
“But give from what is within to the poor,[fn] and then everything is clean for you.
“I will do this,' he said. ‘I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.
“Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple.
“If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
“What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field[fn] and go after the lost one until he finds it?
Now he said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions.
“ ‘A hundred measures of olive oil,' he said.
“ ‘Take your invoice,' he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.'
“Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe? '
“ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,' he said.
“ ‘Take your invoice,' he told him, ‘and write eighty.'
“He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.
“ ‘Son,'[fn] Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come,[fn] but woe to the one through whom they come!
“In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we've only done our duty.' ”
“On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back.
People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Seeing that he became sad,[fn] Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying[fn] was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much.”
Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it.
saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes.
“They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
“Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
“For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
“Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it,
“But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength[fn] to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”[fn] And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.
So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ” asked the men.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.[fn] So he went away, amazed at what had happened.
The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that happened there in these days? ”
“What things? ” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people,
Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
“and repentance for[fn] forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.
This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
“If I have told you about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
For the one whom God sent speaks God's words, since he[fn] gives the Spirit without measure.
“and come out — those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.
A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick.
When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.”
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
From that moment[fn] many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.
So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples can see your works that you are doing.
He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
“The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
“Our father is Abraham,” they replied.
“If you were Abraham's children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.
“You're doing what your father does.”
“We weren't born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father — God.”
“The one who is from God listens to God's words. This is why you don't listen, because you are not from God.”
“The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
“When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice.
“The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them[fn] and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them.
He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.
they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting:
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel! ”
“The one who rejects me and doesn't receive my sayings has this as his judge:[fn] The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself.
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?
“Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works.
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe[fn] because of the works themselves.
“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
“If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
“Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
“because I have given them the words you gave me. They have received them and have known for certain that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who is it that you're seeking? ”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.
So they said to one another, “Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing. This is what the soldiers did.
Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special[fn] day). They requested that Pilate have the men's legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him.
When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.
Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you'll find some.” So they did,[fn] and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.
When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,[fn] do you love me more than these? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Feed my lambs,” he told him.
A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”
“Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”
Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me? ” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books[fn] that would be written.
After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
“Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts),
“Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”
Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words.
They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.
“And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,
“So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail;
“For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
“He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our ancestors by making them abandon their infants outside so that they wouldn't survive.
They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him.
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them! ” And after saying this, he fell asleep.
The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing.
Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
“So I immediately sent for you, and it was good of you to come. So now we are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
“When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.
“Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.”
“After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.'
“When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.
“As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.
As they were leaving, the people[fn] urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath.
Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
“People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,[fn] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.
“After these things I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
“Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.
As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe.
The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose.
The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
“For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.' Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it — he is Lord of heaven and earth — does not live in shrines made by hands.
“Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.
“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,
When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent.[fn] From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,[fn] he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John's baptism.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
so that even facecloths or aprons[fn] that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches! ”
while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.
And when he had passed through those areas and offered them many words of encouragement, he came to Greece
“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,[fn] not knowing what I will encounter there,
“And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray,
“But they have been informed about you — that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs.
“And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval[fn] and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.'
As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air,
For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.
The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”
“So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you[fn] as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.”
When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.
Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”
Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, “There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.
“Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.
Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.
And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
Therefore, every one of you[fn] who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
Do you think — anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same — that you will escape God's judgment?
So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do[fn] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.
on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,
You who say, “You must not commit adultery” — do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?
So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law's requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!
Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers' venom is under their lips.
As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.
And do not offer any parts[fn] of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh.[fn] For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through[fn] his Spirit who lives in you.
He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful[fn] are the feet of those who bring good news.
But I ask, “Did they not hear? ” Yes, they did:
Their voice has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[fn]
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.
and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praise to your name.
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God's purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them,
but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles —
Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,
Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts[fn] except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
The spiritual person, however, can evaluate[fn] everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
So don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.
Don't you know that your bodies are a part of Christ's body? So should I take a part of Christ's body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not!
I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord — how he may please the Lord.
But the married man is concerned about the things of the world — how he may please his wife —
and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world — how she may please her husband.
For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged[fn] to eat food offered to idols?
If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?
Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar?
If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.
You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols.
And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person.
If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast[fn] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.
For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception.
When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone's conscience by an open display of the truth.
In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,[fn] who is the image of God.
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Look at what is obvious.[fn] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, let him remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you.
We are not boasting beyond measure about other people's labors. On the contrary, we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged,
so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you without boasting about what has already been done in someone else's area of ministry.
So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.
Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles.
When James, Cephas,[fn] and John — those recognized as pillars — acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations[fn] will be blessed through you.
The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin's power,[fn] so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.
In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements[fn] of the world.
But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
envy,[fn] drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
as a plan for the right time[fn] — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
In him we have also received an inheritance,[fn] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will,
We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,
The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.
But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ.
In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Fathers, don't stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[fn] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.
I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.
so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord,[fn] contending together for the faith of the gospel,
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you.
In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.
More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ
Brothers and sisters, I do not[fn] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,
Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things.
He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied,[fn] having received from Epaphroditus what you provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.[fn]
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for his body, that is, the church.
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses.
All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.
Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[fn] and so that he may encourage your hearts.
He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews
as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?
to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business,[fn] and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say.
In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.
The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town.
and subjected everything under his feet.
For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God's revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.
But solid food is for the mature — for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better and that pertain to salvation.
Now if he were on earth, he wouldn't be a priest, since there are those[fn] offering the gifts prescribed by the law.
he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.
Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.
He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.
By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.
And make sure that there isn't any immoral[fn] or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?
Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.
Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.
Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies.
They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.[fn]
Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of the Lord[fn] and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
The one who commits[fn] sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil's works.
If anyone has this world's goods and sees a fellow believer[fn] in need but withholds compassion from him — how does God's love reside in him?
and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how we know that we love God's children: when we love God and obey[fn] his commands.
And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.
This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep[fn] what is written in it, because the time is near.
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
“Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you[fn] and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
“I know your works — your love, faithfulness,[fn] service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.
“I will strike her children dead.[fn] Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven't known “the so-called secrets[fn] of Satan” — as they say — I am not putting any other burden on you.
The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations —
“I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.
Our Lord and God,[fn]
you are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will
they exist and were created.
I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
“Don't harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk.
He swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will no longer be a delay,
And some of[fn] the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.
The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God,
She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule[fn] all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image[fn] of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests.
“Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed[fn] so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.”
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her[fn] prostitution.
Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her.
Pay her back the way she also paid,
and double it according to her works.
In the cup in which she mixed,
mix a double portion for her.
They threw dust on their heads and kept crying out, weeping, and mourning,
Woe, woe, the great city,
where all those who have ships on the sea
became rich from her wealth;
for in a single hour she was destroyed.
Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army.
But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power[fn] over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea.
I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
These are the names of the twelve apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
“Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person's last condition is worse than the first. That's how it will also be with this evil generation.”
“the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,
“Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
“These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”
He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.
“Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I've prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
“All the nations[fn] will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God! ”
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.
He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
“Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[fn]
But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
and his clothes became dazzling — extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.
It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him.
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away,[fn] because it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.
Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be made low;[fn]
the crooked will become straight,
the rough ways smooth,
When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets[fn] began to tear.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it.
The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said,
Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
The seventy-two[fn] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
“However, don't rejoice that[fn] the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
“Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'
“Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person's last condition is worse than the first.”
“Woe to you![fn] You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don't know it.”
“For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
“It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
“ ‘Son,'[fn] he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
“On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back.
Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
“This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.
“For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,[fn] so that his deeds may not be exposed.
“But anyone who lives by[fn] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
“You aren't greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”
“But I have a greater testimony than John's because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me.
“The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
“The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me because I testify about it — that its works are evil.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God's works might be displayed in him.
“The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
“When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice.
“All who came before me[fn] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
“The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them[fn] and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them.
Others were saying, “These aren't the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? ”
“I did tell you and you don't believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father's name testify about me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
“Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine, and I am glorified in them.
Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special[fn] day). They requested that Pilate have the men's legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.
Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out.
Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.
In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.
The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.
“so that the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord —
even all the Gentiles
who are called by my name —
declares the Lord
who makes these things
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose.
As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”
For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do[fn] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.
And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us[fn] to bear fruit for death.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
That is, it is not the children by physical descent[fn] who are God's children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring.
What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness — namely the righteousness that comes from faith.
But I ask, “Did they not hear? ” Yes, they did:
Their voice has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
Oh, the depth of the riches
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments
and untraceable his ways!
For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,
Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs.
“Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will do away with both of them. However, the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Don't you know that your bodies are a part of Christ's body? So should I take a part of Christ's body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not!
For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband.[fn] Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.
yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.
These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages[fn] have come.
For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.
For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body — so also is Christ.
And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect,
which our respectable parts do not need.
Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,
so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.
So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love — but the greatest of these is love.
Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds — whether flute or harp — if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?
The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”
When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ.
Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has[fn] come!
Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling.
since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure[fn] devotion to Christ.
The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.
Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations[fn] will be blessed through you.
For it is written,
Rejoice, childless woman,
unable to give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate woman will be many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:[fn] sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,
envy,[fn] drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands.
Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,
Yes, I also ask you, true partner,[fn] to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities —
all things have been created through him and for him.
In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
you will roll them up like a cloak,[fn]
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.
For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God — for whom and through whom all things exist — should make the pioneer[fn] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil —
With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Therefore, from one man — in fact, from one as good as dead — came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days.
This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what is not shaken might remain.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.
And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of the Lord[fn] and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.
This is how God's children and the devil's children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister.
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.
But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct — like irrational animals — by these things they are destroyed.
Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop,[fn] saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,
Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. Something like golden crowns was on their heads; their faces were like human faces;
The nations were angry,
but your wrath has come.
The time has come
for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward
to your servants the prophets,
to the saints, and to those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and the time has come to destroy
those who destroy the earth.
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
They sang the song of God's servant Moses and the song of the Lamb:
Great and awe-inspiring are your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.[fn]
Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you
because your righteous acts
have been revealed.
The second[fn] poured out his bowl into the sea. It turned to blood like that of a dead person, and all life in the sea died.
“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
“The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.
For all the nations have drunk[fn]
the wine of her sexual immorality,
which brings wrath.
The kings of the earth
have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth
have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.
The fruit you craved has left you.
All your splendid and glamorous things are gone;
they will never find them again.
the light of a lamp
will never shine in you again;
and the voice of a groom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
All this will happen
because your merchants
were the nobility of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived
by your sorcery.
Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying,
Amen! Hallelujah!
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen.
The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.
This is the first resurrection.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things[fn] have passed away.
The city had a massive high wall, with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel's sons were inscribed on the gates.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[fn]
Translations available: King James Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, New International Version, English Standard Version, Christian Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible 2020, New American Standard Bible 1995, Legacy Standard Bible 2021, New English Translation, Revised Standard Version, American Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Translation, Webster's Bible, Hebrew Names Version, Reina-Valera 1960, Latin Vulgate, Westminster Leningrad Codex, Septuagint, Morphological Greek New Testament, and Textus Receptus.
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