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saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”[fn]
Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.
Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
“And don't presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?[fn] It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
“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.
“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
“or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness[fn] in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
“Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
“You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet[fn] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
“But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
When he had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes,[fn] two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
“Go! ” he told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.
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.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? ”
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
“If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.
“Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts[fn] and flog you in their synagogues.
“Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
“But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.
“And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,[fn] truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
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.
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,[fn] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,[fn] and the violent have been seizing it by force.
At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain.
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
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.
He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
“They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish,
“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,
“and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law[fn] who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.”
“This is John the Baptist,” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that's why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat.”[fn]
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”
Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven[fn] of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
“Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected?
“Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected?
“Why is it you don't understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,' it wasn't about bread? ”
Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.
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.”
“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done.
“Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
At that time[fn] the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ”
“Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
“See to it that you don't despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of my Father in heaven.[fn]
“In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
“That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[fn] He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe! '
“For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept it should accept it.”
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]
Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
“After agreeing with the workers on one denarius,[fn] he sent them into his vineyard for the day.
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.'
Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something.
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.
Jesus went into the temple[fn] and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.
“Which of the two did his father's will? ”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
“When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit.
“Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot,[fn] and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don't care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.[fn]
“In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.”[fn]
“Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God:
“They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry[fn] and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in.[fn]
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,
“and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.'
“So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
“Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
“He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows — neither the angels of heaven nor the Son[fn] — except the Father alone.
“He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
“And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
“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.
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
“Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place[fn] with my disciples.' ”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.
At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear.
“But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.
Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest's courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.
Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the king of the Jews? ” the governor asked him.
Jesus answered, “You say so.”
The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you? ”
“Barabbas! ” they answered.
They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews! ”
Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,[fn] mocked him and said,
The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
“So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.' Listen, I have told you.”
After the priests[fn] had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees[fn] were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast? ”
On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain.
Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.
Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea,
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.
Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.
One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet
“If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”[fn]
But others said, “He's Elijah.” Still others said, “He's a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”
The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him.
They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean — that is, unwashed — hands.
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders.
He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
“For from within, out of people's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven[fn] of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.
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.”
“For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away — it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt? ”
He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves,
“At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them.
Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.
“And as for the dead being raised — haven't you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all? ”
“David himself says by the Holy Spirit:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.'
He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces,
Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings! ”
“He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.
“Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? ” '
He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve — the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me.
Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear.
Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,[fn] warming himself by the fire.
As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.
Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews? ”
In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he's calling for Elijah.”
After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
“Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.
Then they said to him, “John's disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but yours eat and drink.”
On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? ”
“I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them:
When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant.
and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? ”
After John's messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable,
Then all the people of the Gerasene region[fn] asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned.
“If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”[fn]
saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
“For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.
“Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? ”
He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
“The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look — something greater than Solomon is here.
One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”
Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don't touch these burdens with one of your fingers.
“so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world[fn] —
Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven[fn] of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
“I say to you, my friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.
“And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,
“You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out.
One Sabbath, when he went in to eat[fn] at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely.
“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.' You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests.
“And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God! ”
“I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.”
“Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
“I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” '
“But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.
“So he summoned each one of his master's debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master? ' he asked the first one.
And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight.
“One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side.[fn] The rich man also died and was buried.
“But he told him, ‘If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' ”
“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable;
“Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them?[fn]
“The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself:[fn] ‘God, I thank you that I'm not like other people — greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
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.
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples
Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him:
“Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
“People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
“Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples? ” '
While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him,
So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews? ”
He answered him, “You say so.”[fn]
But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices[fn] won out.
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[fn] him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! ”
who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.
So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ” asked the men.
“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see him.”
Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons.[fn]
After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers' coins and overturned the tables.
“You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said[fn] when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.”
A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick.
So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.
Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw[fn] the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept[fn] it? ”
From that moment[fn] many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.
He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son,[fn] one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.
“This is why Moses has given you circumcision — not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers — and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.
Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?
Then the Jews said to one another, “Where does he intend to go that we won't find him? He doesn't intend to go to the Jewish people dispersed[fn] among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does he?
When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center.
“You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs? ” And there was a division among them.
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren't blind too, are we? ”
“They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and he stayed there with the disciples.
Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover.
So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him.
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.
Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.
because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them[fn] and believing in Jesus.
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! ”
Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue.
Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.
Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this he's telling us: ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me,' and, ‘Because I am going to the Father'? ”
“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word.
After Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.
So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials[fn] from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up.
Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you? ”
“I am not,” he said.
When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest? ”
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren't one of his disciples too, are you? ”
He denied it and said, “I am not.”
One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn't I see you with him in the garden? ”
Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews? ”
“You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? ”
And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews! ” and were slapping his face.
Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don't write, ‘The king of the Jews,' but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.' ”
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.
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus — but secretly because of his fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus's body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away.
They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.
When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
But Thomas (called “Twin”[fn]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples were telling him, “We've seen the Lord! ”
But he said to them, “If I don't see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”[fn]), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples were together.
“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.
Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards[fn] away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.
“Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you? ” because they knew it was the Lord.
After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters[fn] — the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty — and said,
“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us —
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone's hearts; show which of these two you have chosen
Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple.
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him.
“In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets — that his Messiah would suffer.
“Moses said:[fn] The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you.
“In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days.
“You are the sons[fn] of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.
But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men[fn] came to about five thousand.
Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,
and laid them at the apostles' feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),
However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's Colonnade.
Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin — the full council of the Israelites — and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.
“The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree.
“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;
In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.
So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen.
“were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
“I am the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.
“The Lord said to him: Take off the sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.
“This is the Moses who said to the Israelites: God[fn] will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.
“He is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us.
“God turned away and gave them up to worship the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
House of Israel, did you bring me offerings and sacrifices
for forty years in the wilderness?
“Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them, until the days of David.
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth my footstool.
What sort of house will you build for me?
says the Lord,
or what will be my resting place?
“Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
Saul agreed with putting him to death.
On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.
For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
When Simon saw that the Spirit[fn] was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
So, after they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
“And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time.
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.
They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”
Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
“We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree.
Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.
When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.”
Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”
“Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.'
“Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.
As they were leaving, the people[fn] urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath.
After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.
But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium.
In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
“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 the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
strengthening the[fn] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
“Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples' necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
“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
But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.
As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe.
After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.
But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason's house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.
As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined[fn] the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off[fn] trying to say? ”
Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities” — because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
“For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.'
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
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.
After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture[fn] into the amphitheater.
Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander[fn] after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.
and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia.
On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.
“serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.
“In every way I've shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' ”
The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
“With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that[fn] they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,
“Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness? ”
After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic:[fn]
“Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of the light,[fn] I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.
“Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there,
“And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth,
“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.'
The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him[fn] and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. He brought Paul down and placed him before them.
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently, “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him? ”[fn]
When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.”
He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.[fn]
When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.
Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.
“For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting[fn] his needs.
The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,
Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”
“When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned.
Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.
“the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.
“I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.
“I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.
“I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty,[fn] not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am — except for these chains.”
Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.
The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape.
After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
“Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; even though I had no charge to bring against my people.
Then they said to him, “We haven't received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.
After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.[fn]
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[fn] while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off[fn] from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,
Though the number of Israelites
is like the sand of the sea,
only the remnant will be saved;
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.
Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root[fn] of the cultivated olive tree,
do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast — you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
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]
Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.
For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised[fn] on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to[fn] Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many — and of me also.
Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.[fn] Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites.[fn] They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe's people, that there is rivalry among you.
For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.
None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant.
If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous,[fn] and not before the saints?
For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen?
These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages[fn] have come.
If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience.
just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
If I speak human or angelic tongues[fn] but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints,
For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
And as for what you sow — you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.
So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption;
So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
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.
by the word of truth,[fn] by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
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.
For we don't dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.
But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny[fn] an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.
I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
I fear that when I come my God will again[fn] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.
I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.
as a plan for the right time[fn] — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
This was not made known to people[fn] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ,
and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.
Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.
Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word[fn] fearlessly.
not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation — and this is from God.
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.
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[fn] to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.
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.
when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.
For I testify about him that he works hard[fn] for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.[fn]
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
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
who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us. They displease God and are hostile to everyone,
May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.[fn]
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you.
And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle,[fn] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only[fn] God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil's trap.
Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
Don't let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love,[fn] in faith, and in purity.
But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.[fn]
God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords,
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[fn] not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.
Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did he ever say,
You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,[fn]
or again,
I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son?
Now to which of the angels has he ever said:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?
how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
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.
But solid food is for the mature — for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
so that you won't become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings,
The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people — that is, from their brothers and sisters — though they have also descended from Abraham.
For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Now if he were on earth, he wouldn't be a priest, since there are those[fn] offering the gifts prescribed by the law.
For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.
For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,[fn] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,
Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.
By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned[fn] the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn't fear the king's edict.
For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.
And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won't grow weary and give up.
Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.
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.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.
If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God's words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.
For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's possessions — is not from the Father, but is from the world.
This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If we accept human testimony, God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that he has given about his Son.
But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free[fn] from our sins by his blood,
“and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
“I know your[fn] affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
“But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block[fn] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
“In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.[fn]
“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
“Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and[fn] its seven seals.”
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.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
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!
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.[fn]
They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord,[fn] the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood? ”
the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
And I heard the number of the sealed:
144,000 sealed from every tribe of the Israelites:
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,
saying,
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from? ”
For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne
will shepherd them;
he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne.
The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel's hand.
The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water.
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day was without light and also a third of the night.
I looked and heard an eagle[fn] flying high overhead, crying out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound! ”
So the four angels who were prepared for the hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of the human race.
This is how I saw the horses and their riders in the vision: They had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.
A third of the human race was killed by these three plagues — by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came from their mouths.
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.
And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
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 seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign forever and ever.
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.
A great sign[fn] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth it might devour her child.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ
have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them
before our God day and night,
has been thrown down.
So the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring[fn] — those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.
And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people.
They sang[fn] a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, since they remained virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed[fn] from humanity as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
“he will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb,
“This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God's commands and their faith in Jesus.”[fn]
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.”
Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses' bridles for about 180 miles.[fn]
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]
One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Then the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they did not repent of their works.
The sixth[fn] poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east.
Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
“The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction.
“And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”
In her was found the blood of prophets and saints,
and of all those slaughtered on the earth.
because his judgments are true[fn] and righteous,
because he has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit[fn] of prophecy.”
“so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”
Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.
This is the first resurrection.
They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven[fn] and consumed them.
The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
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.
Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
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 city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.
The twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The main street[fn] of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[fn]
Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me.
But he said to me, “Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God! ”
“The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves — but Jesus kept sleeping.
When he had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes,[fn] two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,[fn] proclaim on the housetops.
When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
“The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look — something greater than Solomon is here.
“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.”
“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.”
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.
Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out,[fn] “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”
He answered, “It isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”
They all ate and were satisfied. They collected the leftover pieces — seven large baskets full.
“Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.
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]
Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.
A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover? ”
And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.
He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.
He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
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.”
“It's like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground.
“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.”
As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him.
Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes? ”
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
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.”
But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
Again, leaving the region of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through[fn] the region of the Decapolis.
“Whoever welcomes[fn] one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
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 called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.
Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.[fn]
“And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding,[fn] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it? ”
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]
Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled[fn] among us,
“The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[fn] the Holy Spirit and fire.
He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.
He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.
But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
“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.”
“The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look — something greater than Solomon is here.
“Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
“Consider the ravens: They don't sow or reap; they don't have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than the birds?
“He longed to eat his fill from[fn] the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.
“He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.
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.
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.”
But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called[fn] ‘Benefactors.'
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they[fn] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated — so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,[fn] because he is a liar and the father of lies.
“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.
“just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
“If anyone hears my words and doesn't keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
They took Jesus's body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.
When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven.
Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
“Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them, until the days of David.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,
When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
“Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
“but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
“For it was the Holy Spirit's decision — and ours — not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:
On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there.
“and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king — Jesus.”
but we sailed away from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.
On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.
“You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house.
“especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.
But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.
The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.
God presented him as the mercy seat[fn] by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God's children.
I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
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.
who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,”[fn] and that “there is no God but one.”
No, but I do say that what they[fn] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
Now concerning spiritual gifts:[fn] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware.
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones.
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.
And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.
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.
by the word of truth,[fn] by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
Not to mention[fn] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.
Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.
I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ — which is far better —
My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:
for they themselves report[fn] what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
For the love of money is a root[fn] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
he saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
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 —
Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future.
For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what[fn] he has said,
So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest,”
even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.
For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.
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.
Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him.
a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.
These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.
But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.
But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.[fn] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),
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.
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model[fn] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.
Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus —
By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned[fn] the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?
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.
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”[fn] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.
You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete,
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,[fn] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:
Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
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.
I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.
“to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”
But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“I know your works — your love, faithfulness,[fn] service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.
“Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her[fn] works,
The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations —
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.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven[fn] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come! ”
Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,[fn] and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.”
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 smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel's hand.
The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth. So a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter.
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only those people who do not have God's seal on their foreheads.
The sixth angel blew his trumpet. From the four[fn] horns of the golden altar that is before God, I heard a voice
This is how I saw the horses and their riders in the vision: They had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.
A third of the human race was killed by these three plagues — by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came from their mouths.
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.
And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.
So the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring[fn] — those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.
And it makes everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
They sang[fn] a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
The third[fn] poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.
I heard the angel of the waters say,
You are just,
the Holy One, who is and who was,
because you have passed judgment on these things.
and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they did not repent of their works.
The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations[fn] fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God's presence; he gave her the cup filled with the wine of his fierce anger.
On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth.
for in a single hour
such fabulous wealth was destroyed!
And every shipmaster, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea, stood far off
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.
down the middle of the city's main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations,
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,[fn] and the violent have been seizing it by force.
When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,
“Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.'
While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? ”
“Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
“You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future[fn] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things? ” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.[fn]
When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
“And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding,[fn] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
“They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”
While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy[fn] all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
But the news[fn] about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord's power to heal was in him.
After coming down with them, he stood on a level place with a large crowd of his disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.
One day he and his disciples got into a boat, and he told them, “Let's cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,
At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
Then he told the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it.
Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came
“They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”
He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
“God raised up his servant[fn] and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's Colonnade.
In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
“Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing.
“and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole household.
“They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made.
“Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them, until the days of David.
When Simon saw that the Spirit[fn] was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up! ” And the chains fell off his wrists.
So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.
As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.
Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.
For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
So the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering would be made for each of them.
“Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness? ”
and told them, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward disaster and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.”
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son — that I constantly mention you,
Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.
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 whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
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.
Now about virgins:[fn] I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is faithful.
For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry.[fn]
And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift that we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
Not to mention[fn] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.[fn] If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions[fn] until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.
Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.
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.
At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.
he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
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.
You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
They don't hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.
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
Don't neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe[fn] through him.
And:
In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do — first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.
Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant,[fn] so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days,
the Lord says,
I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,
Obey your leaders[fn] and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you?[fn]
Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!
Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[fn] of your souls.
In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live
The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires,
He himself is the atoning sacrifice[fn] for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice[fn] for our sins.
They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.”
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free[fn] from our sins by his blood,
and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man,[fn] dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.
“Write to the angel[fn] of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven[fn] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come! ”
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;
they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots with horses rushing into battle;
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.
And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.
The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.
On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth.
Then I heard another voice from heaven:
Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins
or receive any of her plagues.
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.
Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
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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