# verses

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And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.


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Now it came to pass in those days that He went out into the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.


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And when it was day, He called His disciples; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:


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And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed from their diseases,


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And He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.


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Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.


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Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man.


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Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. For behold, your reward is great in Heaven, for in the same way their fathers did to the prophets.


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Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.


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Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same things to the false prophets.


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To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.


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For if you love those who love you, what thanks is there to you? For even sinners love those who love them.


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And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks is there to you? For even sinners do the same.


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And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks is there to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.


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But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.


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Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.


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Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over it will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.


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And He spoke a parable to them: Is the blind able to lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?


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And why do you look at the twig in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the beam in your own eye?


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Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the twig that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the twig that is in your brother's eye.


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For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.


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A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.


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He is like a man building a house, who digs deep and lays the foundation on the rock. And when the flood rises, the stream bursts against that house, and cannot shake it, for it is founded on the rock.


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But he who hears and does not act is like a man who builds a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream bursts; and immediately it falls. And the ruin of that house is great.


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So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, requesting Him to come and heal his servant.


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And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was worthy,


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Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.


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Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.


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For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.


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When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.


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And it happened the next day, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, as well as a large crowd.


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And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.


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And He came and touched the coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, Arise!


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And fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people.


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And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are You the Coming One, or should we expect another?


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When the men had come to Him, they said, John the Immerser has sent us to You, saying, Are You the Coming One, or should we expect another?


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And in the same hour He cured many of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits; and to many who were blind He gave sight.


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Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.


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And when the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?


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But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are in kings' courts.


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This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.


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For I say to you, Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Immerser. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.


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And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been immersed with the immersion of John.


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But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been immersed by him.


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They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.


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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.


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Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.


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And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,


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and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.


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Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.


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And Jesus answered and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. So he said, Teacher, speak.


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There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.


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And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?


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Simon answered and said, I suppose the one whom he forgave more. And He said to him, You have rightly judged.


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Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them away with the hair of her head.


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Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.


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And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?


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And it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the gospel of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,


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and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,


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and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered to Him out of their possessions.


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And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke through a parable:


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A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.


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But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and produced fruit a hundredfold. When He had said these things He cried out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear!


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And He said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.


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Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, that they should not believe and be saved.


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And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of trial draw back away.


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And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.


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But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with an honest and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with steadfastness.


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No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.


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For nothing is concealed that will not be made manifest, nor anything hidden that will not be perceived and come into plain view.


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Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.


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And it was told to Him, saying, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.


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But He answered and said to them, My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.


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Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, Let us cross over to the other side of the lake. And they launched out.


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But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in peril.


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And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.


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And He said to them, Where is your faith? And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.


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And when He stepped out onto the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but among the tombs.


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When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!


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For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demons into the wilderness.


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Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion, because many demons had entered him.


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Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.


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Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.


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When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.


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Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.


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Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.


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Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,


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Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you. And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.


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And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house,


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for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds pressed in on Him.


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And a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,


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And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, Master, the crowds are pressing and crowding You, and You say, Who touched Me?


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And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.


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While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.


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But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Do not fear; only believe, and she will be made well.


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And when He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, Jacob, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.


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And her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.


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Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.


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And He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.


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And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.


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Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was being done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,


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and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old time prophets had risen again.


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And Herod said, John I have beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things? So he sought to see Him.


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And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.


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But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.


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And when the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.


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But He said to them, You give them something to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.


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For there were about five thousand men. But He said to His disciples, Make them sit down in groups of fifty.


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Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.


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So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.


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And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples were with Him, and He asked them, saying, Who do the crowds say that I am?


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So they answered and said, John the Immerser, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old time prophets has risen again.


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saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.


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Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.


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For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of Me will save it.


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For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or suffers loss?


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For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and that of His Father, and of the holy angels.


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But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.


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And it came to pass, about eight days after these words, that He took Peter and John and Jacob and went up into the mountain to pray.


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But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.


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And it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said.


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While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud.


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And after the voice came, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.


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And it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.


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And behold, a man from the multitude cried out, saying, Teacher, I beg You, look upon my son, for he is my only child.


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And behold, a spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out; and it throws him into convulsions with foaming, bruises him, and hardly ever departs from him.


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Then Jesus answered and said, O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.


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And as he was still coming, the demon tore him and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.


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And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,


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Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.


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But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they might not perceive it; and they feared to ask Him about this saying.


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and said to them, Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.


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And John answered and said, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.


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And it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be lifted up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,


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and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.


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And when His disciples Jacob and John saw this, they said, Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?


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For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them. And they went to another village.


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And it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.


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And another also said, Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid farewell to those who are at my house.


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But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


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After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to come.


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And He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.


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And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.


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The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near to you.


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Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.


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He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.


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Behold, I give you authority to tread over serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.


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Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.


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In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, I praise You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it was pleasing in Your sight.


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All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.


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Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;


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for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.


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And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?


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So he answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.


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Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.


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Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.


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And likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.


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But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.


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So he went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.


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And on the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come back, I will repay you.


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Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.


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But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came to Him and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.


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Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.


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So He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.


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And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil.


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And He said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;


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and he will answer from within and say, Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you.


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I say to you, Though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as much as he needs.


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So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.


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If a son asks for bread from any father among you, he will not give him a stone, will he? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a serpent instead of a fish, will he?


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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.


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And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.


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But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.


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If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.


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And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.


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But when one stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.


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When an unclean spirit goes out from a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came out.


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Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.


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And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which You sucked!


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And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.


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The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.


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The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.


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No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.


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The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is sound, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.


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If then your whole body is full of light, having no dark part, all will be full of light, as when the shining of a lamp gives you light.


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And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of robbery and wickedness.


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But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all kinds of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting those.


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Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.


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Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, Teacher, by saying these things You also insult us.


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And He said, Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.


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Therefore, you bear witness that you approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.


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Therefore also the wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,


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that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation,


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from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required from this generation.


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Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.


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And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to quarrel with Him forcefully, and to cross-examine Him about many things,


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In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.


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Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.


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And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.


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But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Gehenna; yes, I say to you, Fear Him!


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But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.


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Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.


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And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.


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Now when they bring you to the synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.


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And He said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.


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So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger, and there I will gather all my fruits and my goods.


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And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.


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But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have prepared?


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And He said to His disciples, Therefore I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.


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Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. By how much do you surpass birds.


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Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


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If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you, you of little faith?


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For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.


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Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in Heaven that does not fail, where a thief does not come near nor moth destroys.


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and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.


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Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Truly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.


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And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.


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But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be dug through.


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And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his servants, to give them their portion of food at the right time?


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But if that servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,


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the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him apart and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.


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And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.


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But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.


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Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.


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Then He also said to the multitudes, Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, A thunder storm is coming; and so it happens.


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Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?


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When you go with your adversary to the ruler, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.


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There were present at that time some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


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And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?


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Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?


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He also spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.


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Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it encumber the ground?


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But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.


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And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.


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But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.


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But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, There are six days in which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed in them, and not on the Sabbath day.


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The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?


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So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?


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And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.


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It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and threw in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.


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Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.


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When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and He will answer and say to you, I do not know you, where you are from,


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But He will say, I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.


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There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrust outside.


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And they will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.


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On that same day certain Pharisees came, saying to Him, Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.


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And He said to them, Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am being perfected.


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Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be allowed to happen for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.


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O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her, how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!


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Behold, your house is left to you desolate! And truly, I say to you, You shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!


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And it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.


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And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?


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And He answered them, saying, Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?


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So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:


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When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;


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and he who invited you and him come and say to you, Give place to this man, and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.


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But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, Friend, go up higher. Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.


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Then He also said to him who invited Him, When you give a dinner or a supper, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.


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And you will be blessed, because they do not have the means to repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.


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Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!


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and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, Come, for all things are now ready.


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But they all with one accord began to decline. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.


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And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.


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So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.


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Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.


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If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.


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For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it;


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lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,


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Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?


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It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.


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What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?


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And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!


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I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.


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Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?


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And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!


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Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.


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And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me. So he divided to them his livelihood.


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And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.


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And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.


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And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the husks that the swine ate, and no one gave to him.


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But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger.


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I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you,


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And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.


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And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.


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But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.


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Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.


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And he said to him, Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.


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So he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.


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But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.


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It was right that we should make merry and rejoice, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.


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He also said to His disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.


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So he called him and said to him, What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.


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Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I am not able to dig; I am ashamed to beg.


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I know what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.


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So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, How much do you owe my master?


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And he said, A hundred measures of oil. So he said to him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.


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Then he said to another, And how much do you owe? So he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said to him, Take your bill, and write eighty.


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So the master commended the unjust steward because he had acted prudently. For the sons of this world are more prudent in their generation than the sons of light.


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And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when it fails, they may receive you into eternal dwellings.


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He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.


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Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true?


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No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. It is not possible to serve God and mammon.


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And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.


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The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.


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Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is put away from her husband commits adultery.


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There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.


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desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.


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So it happened that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.


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And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.


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Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.


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But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.


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And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, nor can those from there pass to us.


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for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, that they not also come to this place of torment.


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But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.


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Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible but that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to him through whom they do come!


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It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.


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Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.


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And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him.


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So the Lord said, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you might say to this sycamine tree, Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.


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But which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, Come, sit down to eat?


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But will he not rather say to him, Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink?


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So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.


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So when He saw them, He said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.


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And when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation;


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And He said to the disciples, The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.


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For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under the heavens, shines to the other part under the heavens, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.


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They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.


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Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;


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but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.


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In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not return back.


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I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.


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And they answered and said to Him, Where, Lord? And He said to them, Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.


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And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God nor regard man,


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yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, that she not weary me by her continual coming.


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I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?


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Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:


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The Pharisee stood and prayed thus to himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.


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And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner!


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I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.


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Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.


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But Jesus called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.


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You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.


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So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.


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And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God.


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For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


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So He said to them, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, on account of the kingdom of God,


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Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.


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But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.


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And those who went before rebuked him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me!


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So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,


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And immediately he recovered his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.


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And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.


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And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.


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But when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.


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And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor; and whatever I have taken from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.


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Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.


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Therefore He said: A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.


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So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, Do business till I come.


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But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not desire to have this man reign over us.


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And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.


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And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.


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For I feared you, because you are a harsh man. You take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.


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And he said to him, Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow.


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Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?


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For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.


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But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.


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And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,


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saying, Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.


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And if anyone asks you, Why are you loosing it? you shall say to him, Because the Lord has need of it.


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And as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,


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saying: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!


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But He answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.


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saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things that make for your peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes.


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For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and besiege you on every side,


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and tear you down, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.


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saying to them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.


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And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the chief of the people sought to destroy Him,


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And it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, came up


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and spoke to Him, saying, Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?


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But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.


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Then He began to tell the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.


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Now at the right time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.


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And again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.


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Then the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him when they see him.


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But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may become ours.


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So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?


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He will come and destroy these vinedressers and give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it they said, Let it not be!


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And He looked at them and said, What then is this that is written: The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner?


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And the chief priests and the scribes that same hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people; for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.


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So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on one of His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.


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Then they asked Him, saying, Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal regard, but teach the way of God in truth:


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And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.


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And they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.


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saying: Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up seed for his brother.


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But those who are counted worthy to attain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;


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nor is it possible for them to die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


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But even Moses showed at the bush that the dead are raised, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.


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Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the chief places at feasts,


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who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.


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for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.


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As for these things which you see; the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.


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So they asked Him, saying, Teacher, therefore when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?


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And He said: Take heed that you not be led astray. For many will come in My name, saying, I AM, and, The time is here. Therefore do not go after them.


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But when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end is not immediately.


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And there will be great earthquakes from place to place, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven.


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But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers on account of My name.


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for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.


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And you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.


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Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.


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But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.


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And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.


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And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;


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men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


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And when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.


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But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with giddiness, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly.


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Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.


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And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the Mount of Olives.


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So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and commanders, how he might deliver Him to them.


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And He said to them, Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.


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Then you shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?


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And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.


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Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.


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And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!


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Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it might be who was about to do this thing.


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And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors.


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But not so among you; rather, he who is greater among you, let him be as the younger, and he who leads as he who serves.


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For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.


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that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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But I have prayed for you, that your faith does not fail; and when you have returned, strengthen your brethren.


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Then He said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.


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And He said to them, When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing.


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Then He said to them, But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.


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For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: And He was numbered with the transgressors. For the things concerning Me have an end.


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And coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.


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saying, Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.


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And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.


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And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.


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When those around Him saw what was about to happen, they said to Him, Lord, shall we strike with the sword?


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Then Jesus said to the chief priests, commanders of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?


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When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against Me. But this is your hour, and the authority of darkness.


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And having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance.


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Now when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.


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And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, This man was also with Him.


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And after a little while another saw him and said, You also are of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not.


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Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, Truly this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.


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But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are saying. Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.


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And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.


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And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?


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And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,


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And they said, What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.


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And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this one perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.


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Then Pilate asked Him, saying, Are You the King of the Jews? He answered him and said, It is as you say.


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But they were the more insistent, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.


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And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.


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Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some sign done by Him.


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Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.


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And the same day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.


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said to them, You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;


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no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.


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Then he said to them the third time, Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.


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But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.


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And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.


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Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it behind Jesus.


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But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


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For behold the days are coming in which they will say, Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed.


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And when they had come to the place called Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.


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And the people stood looking on. Moreover the rulers with them sneered, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.


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And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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And one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.


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But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?


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And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.


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And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. Having said this, He breathed out the spirit.


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So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, Truly this was a righteous Man!


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And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing the things that happened, beat their breasts and returned.


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But all His acquaintances, and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.


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He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.


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And he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.


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And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.


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And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.


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Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.


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And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.


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And, as they were terrified and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead?


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saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.


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It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of Jacob, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.


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But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, wondering to himself at what had happened.


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Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.


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And He said to them, What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?


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Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, Are You only a stranger in Jerusalem, and do not know the things which happened there in these days?


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And He said to them, What things? So they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,


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But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.


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And when they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He is alive.


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And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see Him.


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Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.


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And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.


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And they drew near to the village where they were going, and He made as though He would have gone farther.


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But they constrained Him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to stay with them.


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And it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.


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And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?


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So they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,


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And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.


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And as they were saying these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, Peace to you.


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Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.


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But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, Have you any food here?


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Then He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.


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And He said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,


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and that repentance and remission of sins be preached in His name to all nations, beginning out of Jerusalem.


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Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.


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And it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into Heaven.


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But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those believing into His name:


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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.


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John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who arrives after me appeared in history before me, for He existed before me.


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No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.


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Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?


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And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No.


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Then they said to him, Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?


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He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.


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And they asked him, saying, Why then do you immerse if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?


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John answered them, saying, I immerse in water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.


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It is He who, arriving after me, appeared in history before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.


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The next day John sees Jesus coming toward him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!


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This is He of whom I said, After me arrives a Man who appeared in history before me, for He existed before me.


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And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending out of Heaven like a dove, and He abode upon Him.


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I did not know Him, but He who sent me to immerse in water said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who immerses in the Holy Spirit.


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Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, What do you seek? They said to Him, Rabbi (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), where are You staying?


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He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).


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He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ).


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And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus looked at him, He said, You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas (which is translated, Peter).


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Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and also the Prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.


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And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.


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Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.


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Nathanael said to Him, From where do You know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.


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Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.


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And He said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.


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Now there were set there six stone waterpots, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing two or three measures each.


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And He said to them, Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast. And they brought it.


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When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom,


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and he said to him, Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now.


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This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.


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After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they stayed there not many days.


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And when He had made a whip out of rope, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables.


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And He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away from here! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!


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Then the Jews said, It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?


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Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the Word which Jesus had said.


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Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.


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This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.


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Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.


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Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? He is not able to enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?


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Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.


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The Spirit breathes where He wishes, and you hear His voice, but do not know where He comes from and where He goes. So is everyone who is born from the Spirit.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak what We know and bear witness to what We have seen, and you do not receive Our testimony.


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If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you Heavenly things?


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No one has ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.


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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.


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For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.


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The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


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And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.


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For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.


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But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.


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After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and immersed.


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And John also was immersing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were immersed.


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And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness; behold, He is immersing, and everyone is coming to Him.


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You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, I have been sent to go before Him.


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He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.


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He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.


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The one believing into the Son has eternal life; but the one disobeying the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.


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Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and immersed more disciples than John


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So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.


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Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.


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Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.


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Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would give you living water.


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The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?


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Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?


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but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will not ever thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.


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The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband,


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for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.


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Our fathers did homage on this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the right place to do homage.


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Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will do homage to the Father neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem.


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But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will do homage to the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeks such to do homage to Him.


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The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will make known all things to us.


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And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, What do You seek? or, Why are You talking with her?


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Do you not say, There are yet four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.


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And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.


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I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.


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And many of the Samaritans of that city believed into Him because of the word of the woman who testified, He told me everything that I ever did.


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So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they begged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.


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And they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is truly the Christ, the Savior of the world.


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So when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.


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So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.


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When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and begged Him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.


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Jesus said to him, Go your way; your son lives. So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.


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Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.


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So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives. And he himself believed, and his whole household.


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Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.


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In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.


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For an angel went down at certain times into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.


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When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been there a long time, He said to him, Do you want to be made well?


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The sick man answered Him, Sir, I have no man to throw me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another goes down before me.


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The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.


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But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.


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Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, Behold, you have been made well. Sin no more, that a worse thing not come upon you.


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For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.


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Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.


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Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything from Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does likewise.


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For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.


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that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who has sent Him.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.


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Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice


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and come forth; those who have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.


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I am able to do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.


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There is another who bears witness concerning Me, and I know that the testimony which He witnesses concerning Me is true.


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But I have a greater testimony than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.


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And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.


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You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me.


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I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.


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How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from God only?


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Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you; Moses, in whom you have hoped.


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And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.


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Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?


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Philip answered Him, Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive even a little.


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And Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.


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And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they desired.


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So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.


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Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.


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Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.


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Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.


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got into the boat, and went across the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.


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So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.


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Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.


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On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone;


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however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks;


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when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.


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And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, Rabbi, when did You come here?


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Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.


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Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.


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Therefore they said to Him, What sign do You show then, that we may see and believe You? What do You work?


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Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.


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Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread out of Heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread out of Heaven.


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And Jesus said to them, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall not ever hunger, and he who believes into Me shall never ever thirst.


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All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.


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This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should not lose any of it, but should raise it up at the last day.


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And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes into Him may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.


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And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, I have come down out of Heaven?


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No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.


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It is written in the Prophets, And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.


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I am the Living Bread which came down out of Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.


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Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves.


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Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.


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As the living Father sent Me, and I live through the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live through Me.


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This is the Bread which came down out of Heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.


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Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who is able to hear it?


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When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured about this, He said to them, Does this offend you?


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It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh does not profit; not a thing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.


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But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who were not believing, and who would betray Him.


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And He said, Therefore I have said to you that no one is able to come to Me unless it has been granted to him from My Father.


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He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who was about to betray Him, being one of the twelve.


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After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.


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His brothers therefore said to Him, Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You do.


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For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, make Yourself known to the world.


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But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.


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And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him. Some said, He is good; others said, No, rather, He leads the multitudes astray.


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If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak out of Myself.


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He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and unrighteousness is not in Him.


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Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.


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If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the Law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?


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But behold, He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Perhaps the rulers truly know that this is truly the Christ?


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Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come from Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.


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Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.


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And many out of the crowd believed into Him, and said, When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?


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The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.


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Then Jesus said to them, I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.


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Then the Jews said among themselves, Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? He does not intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does He?


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What is this thing that He said, You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you are not able to come?


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On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.


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He who believes into Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.


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But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing into Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.


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Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?


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Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, Why have you not brought Him?


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They answered and said to him, Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.


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And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.


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And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,


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This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.


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So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.


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Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.


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When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?


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Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.


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Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I bear witness of Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.


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Then they said to Him, Where is Your Father? Jesus answered, You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.


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These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.


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Then Jesus said to them again, I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you are not able to come.


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And He said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from this world.


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Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.


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Then they said to Him, Who are You? And Jesus said to them, The Beginning; what I have been saying to you.


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I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.


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Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.


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And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.


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Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you continue to abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples.


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They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed, and have been in slavery to no one at any time. How can You say, You will be made free?


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They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.


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But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.


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You do the works of your father. Then they said to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father; God.


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Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come from Myself, but He sent Me.


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You are of the devil as your father, and the lusts of your father you purpose to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.


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Then the Jews answered and said to Him, Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?


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Then the Jews said to Him, Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and You say, If anyone keeps My Word he shall never ever taste death.


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Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?


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Jesus answered, If I glorify Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say that He is your God.


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Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His Word.


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Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus was hidden and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.


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And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?


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Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.


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It is necessary for Me to work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one is able to work.


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When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.


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And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.


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Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, Is not this he who sat and begged?


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He answered and said, A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and I received sight.


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Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.


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Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath. Others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.


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They said to the blind man again, What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet.


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But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.


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And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?


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but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.


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His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone should confess that He was Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.


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So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, Give God the glory. We know that this Man is a sinner.


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He answered and said, Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.


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He answered them, I told you already, and you did not hear. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you not also want to become His disciples?


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The man answered and said to them, Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!


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Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone reveres God and does His will, He hears him.


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Since the world began it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.


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They answered and said to him, You were born completely in sins, and do you teach us? And they drove him out.


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Jesus heard that they had driven him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, Do you believe into the Son of God?


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And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.


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Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.


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To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


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And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.


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Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.


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I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.


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The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.


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But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.


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And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must lead, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.


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No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This precept I have received from My Father.


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Others said, These are not the words of one who has a demon. A demon is not able to open the eyes of the blind.


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Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.


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Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness concerning Me.


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And I give them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.


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My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one has the power to snatch them out of My Father's hand.


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Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?


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The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, make Yourself God.


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do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?


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but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.


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And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was immersing at first, and there He stayed.


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Then many came to Him and said, John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.


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It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.


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When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.


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Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.


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These things He said, and after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.


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However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.


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And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.


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Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him.


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And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.


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Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.


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Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes into Me, though he may die, he shall live.


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She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world.


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And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, The Teacher is here and calls for you.


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Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, She is going to the tomb to weep there.


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Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.


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Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.


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And some of them said, Would not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have been able to keep this man from dying?


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Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, Lord, by this time there is a stench, for it is four days.


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Then they took away the stone from where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.


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And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.


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And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go.


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Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, What shall we do? For this Man performs many signs.


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If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe into Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.


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nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.


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Now this he did not say from himself; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation,


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and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together into one the children of God who had been scattered abroad.


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Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and stayed there with His disciples.


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And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.


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Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, What do you think; that He will not come to the feast?


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Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.


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Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died, whom He raised from the dead.


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Then Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.


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This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybag; and he used to take what was put in it.


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Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not because of Jesus only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.


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The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,


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took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!


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His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.


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Therefore the crowd, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.


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The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Behold, the world has gone after Him!


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They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.


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He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it unto eternal life.


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If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.


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Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me out of this hour? But for this purpose I came unto this hour.


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Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.


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Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has spoken to Him.


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The people answered Him, We have heard out of the Law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?


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Then Jesus said to them, A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, that darkness not overtake you; for he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.


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While you have the Light, believe into the Light, that you may become sons of Light. These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.


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that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?


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He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, that they should not see with their eyes, that they should not understand with their hearts and be turned, and I should heal them.


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Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed into Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, that they might not be put out of the synagogue;


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And Jesus cried out and said, He who believes into Me, believes not into Me but into Him who sent Me.


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I have come as a Light into the world, that everyone believing into Me should not remain in darkness.


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And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.


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He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the Word that I speak will judge him in the Last Day.


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For I do not speak from Myself; but the Father who sent Me gives Me orders, what I should say and what I should speak.


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And I know that His command is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has said unto Me, so I speak.


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Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.


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And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,


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Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God and was going to God,


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After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.


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Jesus answered and said to him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will come to understand after this.


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Peter said to Him, You shall certainly not ever wash my feet! Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.


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Jesus said to him, He who is bathed has no other need than to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not everyone.


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So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and reclined again, He said to them, Do you know what I have done to you?


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Truly, truly, I say to you, A servant is not greater than his master; nor is the messenger greater than the one sending him.


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I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, He who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.


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When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray Me.


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Jesus answered, It is he to whom I shall give a morsel when I have dipped it. And having dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.


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For some thought, because Judas had the moneybag, that Jesus was saying to him, Buy those things we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor.


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Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, Where I am going, you are not able to come, so now I say to you.


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A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I love you, that you also love one another.


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Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are You going? Jesus answered him, Where I am going you are not able to follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.


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Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you will deny Me three times.


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In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.


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And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.


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Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.


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If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.


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Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how do you say, Show us the Father?


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Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak from Myself; but the Father who abides in Me does the works.


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Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or if not, believe Me on account of the works themselves.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes into Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.


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And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may remain with you forever;


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the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.


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Yet a little while and the world sees Me no more, but you see Me. Because I live, you will live also.


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He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and make Myself known to him.


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Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, Lord, how is it that You will make Yourself known to us, and not at all to the world?


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Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.


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He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.


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But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.


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Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


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You have heard Me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.


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I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.


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But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded Me, thus I do. Arise, let us go from here.


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Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.


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Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.


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I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me there is not a thing you are able to do.


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If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is dried up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.


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If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall happen unto you.


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If you keep My commandments, you will continue in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and continue in His love.


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No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master does; but I have called you friends, for all things that I hear from My Father I make known to you.


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You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.


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If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.


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Remember the Word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also.


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But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me.


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If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.


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If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.


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Moreover, that the Word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause.


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But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness concerning Me.


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They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.


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But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.


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Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.


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However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak things originating from Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will make known to you things to come.


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All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will receive from what is Mine and make it known to you.


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A little while, and you do not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go away to the Father.


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Then His disciples said among themselves, What is this that He says to us, A little while, and you do not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me; and, because I go to the Father?


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Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, Do you seek answers among yourselves that I said, A little while, and you do not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me?


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Truly, truly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will become joy.


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A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she gives birth to the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a person has been born into the world.


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Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy from you.


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And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.


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These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will clearly make known to you concerning the Father.


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for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.


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I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.


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Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.


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Behold, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you are scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.


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These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction; but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.


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Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and says: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,


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as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.


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And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent.


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And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.


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I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word.


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For I have given to them the Words which You have given Me; and they received them, and surely know that I came forth from You; and they believe that You sent Me.


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I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.


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And now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.


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While I was with them in the world, I cared for them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have guarded; and not one of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.


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But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.


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I have given them Your Word; and the world hates them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.


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I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil.


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I do not pray concerning these alone, but also concerning those who will believe into Me through their word;


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that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.


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I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made complete in one, and that the world may know that You sent Me, and love them as You love Me.


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Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You gave Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.


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O righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.


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And I have made known to them Your name, and will make it known, that the love with which You love Me may be in them, and I in them.


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When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.


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And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often came together there with His disciples.


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Then Judas, having received a company of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.


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They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I AM! And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.


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Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.


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So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?


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Then the company of troops and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.


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And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.


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Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.


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And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.


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But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.


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Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, Are you not also one of this Man's disciples? He said, I am not.


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Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.


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Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.


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Why do you question Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Behold, they know what I said.


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And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Do You answer the high priest this way?


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Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?


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Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, Are you not also one of His disciples? He denied it and said, I am not.


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One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with Him?


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Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, that they should not be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.


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They answered and said to him, If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.


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Then Pilate said to them, You take Him and judge Him according to your Law. Therefore the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,


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Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, Are You the King of the Jews?


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Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?


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Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.


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Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.


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Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in Him at all.


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But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?


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Pilate then went out again, and said to them, Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.


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Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Behold the Man!


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Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.


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The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.


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and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, Where are You from? But Jesus gave him no answer.


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Then Pilate said to Him, Do You not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to crucify You, and authority to release You?


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Jesus answered, You could have no authority at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.


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From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar.


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When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.


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Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your King!


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But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar!


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And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,


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And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.


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Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews, but, He said, I am the King of the Jews.


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Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout.


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They said therefore among themselves, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. Therefore the soldiers did these things.


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Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


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When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son.


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Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.


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After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst!


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Now a vessel full of vinegar was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.


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So when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, It has been finished! And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.


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Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.


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And he who has seen has borne witness, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he speaks the truth, so that you may believe.


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For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, Not one of His bones shall be broken.


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After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. And he came and took the body of Jesus.


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And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.


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Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.


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Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.


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Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.


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Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.


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Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,


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and the face cloth that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.


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For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that it was necessary for Him to rise again from the dead.


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And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.


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And they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.


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And when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.


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Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.


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Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.


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Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace to you.


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And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.


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If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; whatever you lay hold upon, it is held fast.


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The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not ever believe.


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And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace to you.


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Then He said to Thomas, Bring your finger here, and look at My hands; and bring your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.


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Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those not seeing and yet believing.


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but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.


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After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:


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Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.


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Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We are coming with you also. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.


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But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.


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And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.


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Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was naked), and plunged into the sea.


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But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.


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Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.


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Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.


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Jesus said to them, Come and eat breakfast. Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, Who are You? knowing that it was the Lord.


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So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I am deeply fond of You. He said to him, Feed My lambs.


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He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I am deeply fond of You. He said to him, Tend My sheep.


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He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, are you deeply fond of Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Are you deeply fond of Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You discern all things; You know that I am deeply fond of You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.


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This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, Follow Me.


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Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is the one who betrays You?


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Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple does not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he does not die, but, If I intend for him to remain till I come, what is that to you?


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This is the disciple who bears witness concerning these things, and writes these things; and we know that his testimony is true.


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And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.


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until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,


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to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.


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And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from Me;


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for John truly immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.


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Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?


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And He said to them, It is not yours to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.


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But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.


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Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.


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And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,


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who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven.


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.


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And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, Jacob, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; Jacob of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas of Jacob.


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These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.


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And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,


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Men and brethren, this Scripture needed to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who took Jesus;


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(Now this man procured a field out of the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails poured out.


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And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akeldama; that is, Field of Blood.)


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For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his dwelling place become desolate, and let him not live in it; and, Let another take his office.


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Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,


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beginning from the immersion of John until the day when He was taken up from us, it is necessary for one of these to become a witness with us of His resurrection.


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And they prayed and said, You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen


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to take part in this ministry and apostleship which Judas abandoned, that he might go to his own place.


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And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.


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And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as being borne along by a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.


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And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.


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And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own dialect.


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And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?


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Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,


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Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,


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But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.


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And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out from My Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.


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And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.


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I will present wonders in the heavens above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.


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The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.


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Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved by God to you by works of power, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know;


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Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;


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whom God raised up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.


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For David says concerning Him: I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I not be shaken.


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Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.


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Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne;


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he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.


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Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.


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For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,


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Therefore let all the house of Israel understand with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.


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Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?


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Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.


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And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.


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Then those who gladly received his word were immersed; and that day about three thousand souls were added.


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And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.


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So continuing day by day with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,


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praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.


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And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;


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Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.


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And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.


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So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God.


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And they knew that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


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And as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.


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And when Peter saw it, he answered the people: Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this one? Or why do you gaze on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?


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The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to set Him free.


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And His Name, by faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.


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But those things which God foretold through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.


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Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,


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whom Heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken through the mouth of all His holy prophets since the past ages.


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For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up to you a Prophet like me from among your brethren. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He says to you.


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And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.


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Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.


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You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your Seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.


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Having raised up His Son Jesus, God sent Him to you first, to bless you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.


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Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the temple commander, and the Sadducees came near them,


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being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


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And they laid hands on them, and put them into custody until the next day, for it was already evening.


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However, many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.


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as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.


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And standing them in the midst, they asked, By what sort of power or by what sort of name have you done this?


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If we this day are examined for a good deed done to an infirm man, by what means he has been made well,


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let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in Him this man stands here before you whole.


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This is the Stone which was counted as nothing by you builders, which has become the Head of the Corner.


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Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men that is required for us to be saved.


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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they understood that they were with Jesus.


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saying, What shall we do to these men? For indeed, that a notable sign has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it.


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But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them with a threat, that from now on they speak to no one in this name.


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But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.


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So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.


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And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.


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So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: Lord, You are God, who made the heavens and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,


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who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: Why did the nations rage, and the people devise vain things?


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The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers themselves were gathered against the Lord and against His Christ.


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For truly against Your holy Son Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together


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And now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants to speak Your Word with all boldness,


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by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Son Jesus.


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And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.


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Now the multitude of those believing were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.


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And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.


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Nor was there anyone needy among them; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,


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And Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,


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And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and placed it at the apostles' feet.


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But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land for yourself?


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While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you put this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.


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Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.


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Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.


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Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.


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And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.


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so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and mattresses, that even if the shadow of Peter came passing by, it might overshadow some of them.


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Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


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Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with zeal,


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And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.


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saying, Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.


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Now when the high priest, the temple commander, and the chief priests heard these things, they were perplexed as to whatever would become of this.


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Then one came and reported to them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.


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Then the commander went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, that they might not be stoned.


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saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us.


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Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give to Israel repentance and remission of sins.


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And we are His witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.


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Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly esteemed by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.


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And he said to them: Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.


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For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.


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After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.


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And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;


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but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it; lest you even be found to fight against God.


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And they agreed with him, and when they had summoned the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.


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So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.


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And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.


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Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service.


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Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables.


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Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this need;


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And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,


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And the Word of God grew, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.


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Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Libertines (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.


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Then they secretly induced men to say, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.


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And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and led him into the council.


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They also set up false witnesses who said, This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law;


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for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.


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And he said, Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,


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and said to him, Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.


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Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.


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And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him.


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But God spoke in this way: that his seed would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.


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And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge, said God, and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.


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And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.


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and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.


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Now a famine and great distress came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no food.


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And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's kindred became known to Pharaoh.


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And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem.


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But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt


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This man dealt craftily with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their babies, so that they might not live.


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At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months.


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Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to look after his brethren, the children of Israel.


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And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian.


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For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.


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And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?


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But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?


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And when forty years had passed, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.


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When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,


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I am the God of your fathers; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses becoming terrified, dared not look.


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Then the Lord said to him, Loosen the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.


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I have given attention to see the affliction of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.


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This Moses whom they rejected, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.


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He led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.


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This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.


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This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living Words to give to us,


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whom our fathers did not desire to obey, but thrust him away. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,


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saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.


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And they made a calf in those days, led a sacrifice up to the idol, and made merry in the works of their own hands.


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Then God turned and gave them over to serve the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?


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You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, images which you made to do homage; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.


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Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,


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which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,


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Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest?


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You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always oppose the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.


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Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they, who received the Law by the command of angels and did not keep it, killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One,


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But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,


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and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid aside their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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And he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


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Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.


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As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.


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And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the many signs which he did.


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For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.


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But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously used sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,


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to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.


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But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were immersed.


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Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was immersed he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the works of power and signs which were done.


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Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,


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For as yet He had not fallen on any of them. They had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus.


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And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,


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But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!


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Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.


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Then Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.


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So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.


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Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.


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So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of high office under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to do homage,


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So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you are reading?


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And he said, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he summoned Philip to come up and sit with him.


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The place in the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth.


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In His humiliation His judgment was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.


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So the eunuch answered Philip and said, I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?


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Now as they went down the road, they came upon some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What prevents me from being immersed?


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Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.


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So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he immersed him.


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Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.


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But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.


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Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest


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and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.


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And he said, Who are You, Sir? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.


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So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You have in mind for me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.


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Then Saul was lifted up from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.


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Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here I am, Lord.


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So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prays.


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And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.


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Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.


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But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.


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And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.


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Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was immersed.


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So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.


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Then all who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?


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But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.


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And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to be joined to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.


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But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.


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And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed with the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.


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Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.


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Now it came to pass, as Peter went everywhere, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.


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And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. Then he arose immediately.


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At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.


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But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.


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And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, begging him not to delay in coming to them.


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Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.


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But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.


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Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.


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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,


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a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.


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About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius.


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And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.


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He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you need to do.


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And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.


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The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.


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and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.


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In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.


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Now while Peter was perplexed within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate.


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While Peter pondered concerning the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you.


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Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek. For what reason are you here?


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And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.


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Then he invited them in and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.


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And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.


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Then he said to them, You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.


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Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?


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So Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,


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Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.


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So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.


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The Word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all);


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that Word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the immersion which John preached:


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how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.


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And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they did away with, hanging Him on a tree.


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not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.


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And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.


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To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, everyone believing into Him will receive remission of sins.


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And those of the circumcision who were believers, as many as came with Peter, were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles.


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Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be immersed, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?


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And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.


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Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.


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I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.


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When I had fixed my eyes on it and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.


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At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.


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Then the Spirit spoke to me to go with them without hesitating. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.


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And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, Send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter,


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Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit.


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If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to prevent God?


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When they heard these things they kept silent; and they glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.


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Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to no one but the Jews only.


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But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.


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Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.


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When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.


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For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.


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And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.


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Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and gave a sign through the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.


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Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.


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And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. (And it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.)


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So when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after Passover.


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And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.


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And behold, the Angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly! And his chains fell off his hands.


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Then the Angel said to him, Gird yourself and bind on your sandals; and he did so. And He said to him, Throw around your garment and follow Me.


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So he went out and followed Him, and did not know that what was done through the Angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.


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When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the Angel departed from him.


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And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His Angel, and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.


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So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.


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And when she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.


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But they said to her, You are beside yourself. Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, It is his angel.


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But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go, tell these things to Jacob and to the brethren. And he departed and went to another place.


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Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.


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And when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be led away to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.


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Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.


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And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.


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And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.


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Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


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As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.


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So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.


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And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.


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Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,


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who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.


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But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


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and said, O full of all deceit and all mischief, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord?


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And now, lo, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.


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Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.


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Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.


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But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.


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And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to the people, speak.


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The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.


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And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.


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And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.


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And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He bore witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.


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when John had first preached, before His coming on the scene, an immersion of repentance to all the people of Israel.


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And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.


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Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the Word of this salvation is sent.


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For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.


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Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.


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He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.


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God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: You are My Son, today I have begotten You.


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And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: I will give you the holy and faithful promises of David.


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For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;


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Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this One is preached to you the remission of sins;


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and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.


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Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish. For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.


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So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.


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Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.


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But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.


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Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you thrust it away, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.


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For thus the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.


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Now when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed unto eternal life believed.


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But the Jews stirred up the devout and influential women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their borders.


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Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.


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Then, indeed, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, Who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.


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And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to inflict injury and stone them,


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they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.


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And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.


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Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, The gods have come down to us, becoming like men!


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Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, determined to sacrifice with the multitudes.


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But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed in among the multitude, crying out


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and saying, Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,


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Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, doing good, giving us rain from the heavens and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.


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Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to have died.


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However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.


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And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,


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strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must enter the kingdom of God through many afflictions.


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So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord into whom they believed.


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From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.


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And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.


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And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.


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Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, concerning this question.


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So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they brought great joy to all the brethren.


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And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.


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But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.


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And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the gospel and believe.


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So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,


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Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?


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Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting how many signs and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.


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Simon has declared how God at the first looked upon the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.


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After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up;


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so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.


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Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,


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but that we write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, from sexual perversion, from things strangled, and from blood.


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For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.


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Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.


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They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.


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Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the Law; to whom we gave no such commandment;


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it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


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For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:


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that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual perversion. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.


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So when they were sent away, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.


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And Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.


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And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.


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Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.


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Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they are holding on.


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But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.


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And the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;


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Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was Greek.


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Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.


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And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.


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Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia.


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And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: A man of Macedonia stood and begged him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us.


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And after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.


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Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,


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and from there to Philippi, which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.


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And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who assembled there.


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And a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who revered God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.


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And when she and her household were immersed, she begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. So she persuaded us.


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And it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortunetelling.


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This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.


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And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly disturbed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very instant.


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But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers.


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And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;


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Then the multitude rose up against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.


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And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.


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Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.


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And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.


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And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were loosened.


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And the jailer, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.


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And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were immersed.


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And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, believing in God with all his household.


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So the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.


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But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they drive us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and lead us out.


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And the floggers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.


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So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.


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Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


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And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,


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explaining and setting forth that the Christ needed to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.


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And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.


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But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the baser sort from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and came upon the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.


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But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too;


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whom Jason has received, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus.


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Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.


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These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things are so.


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But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the Word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.


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Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go as though toward the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.


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And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him quickly, they departed.


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Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.


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Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.


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Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What does this empty talker want to say? And others, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign demons, because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.


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And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which you speak?


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For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.


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For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.


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Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you fear the gods;


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for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your devotion, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One to whom you show reverence without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:


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God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.


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Nor is He served with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.


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And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell everywhere on the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,


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so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;


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for in Him we live and move and exist, as also some of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.


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Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine is like gold or silver or stone, something engraved by art and man's devising.


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because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.


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And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some ridiculed, while others said, We will hear you again concerning this matter.


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However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.


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And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.


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And, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.


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When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.


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But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.


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And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who revered God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.


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Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing and believing, were immersed.


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Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;


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And when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,


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And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.


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But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.


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Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.


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So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut at Cenchrea, for he had a vow.


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And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.


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but took leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing. And he sailed from Ephesus.


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After he had spent some time there, he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.


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Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.


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This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the immersion of John.


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So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.


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And when he was minded to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, encouraging the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;


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for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.


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And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples


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he said to them, Since you believe, did you receive the Holy Spirit? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.


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Then Paul said, John indeed immersed with an immersion of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.


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And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.


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And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.


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But when some were hardened and did not obey, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of a certain Tyrannus.


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And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.


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so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out from them.


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Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, We command you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.


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And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; but who are you?


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Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them and subdued them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


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This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


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Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. And they counted up the value of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.


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When these things were completed, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.


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So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.


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for a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.


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He assembled them with the workers of similar occupation, and said: Men, you know that we have our wealth by this trade.


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Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.


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So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world revere.


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Now when they heard this, they were full of anger and cried out, saying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!


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So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.


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Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.


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Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.


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And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.


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But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!


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And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?


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For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.


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Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.


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For we are in danger of being accused of insurrection concerning today, there being no reason which we may give to account for this riot.


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After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.


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and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.


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And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia; also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.


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But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.


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Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.


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And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.


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But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.


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Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.


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Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so it was arranged, intending himself to go on foot.


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And we sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. And the following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus.


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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.


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And when they had come to him, he said to them: You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I lived among you all the time,


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serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;


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how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,


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testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.


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And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,


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But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.


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And behold now, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.


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Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.


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For I know this, that after my departure vicious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.


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Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.


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Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.


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So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


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Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have served for my necessities, and for those who were with me.


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I have shown you in everything, by laboring like this, that we need to support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.


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sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.


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Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


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When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.


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And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.


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And when we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with women and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.


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And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.


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On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.


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And when he had come to us, he took Paul's waistband, binding his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this waistband, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.


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Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.


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Then Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.


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Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them Mnason, a certain Cypriot, one of the original disciples, with whom we were to lodge.


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And when he had greeted them, he related one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.


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And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, You see, brother, how many countless Jews there are who believe, and they also are all zealous for the Law;


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but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.


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Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the Law.


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But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual perversion.


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Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to declare the fulfillment of the days of purification, until an offering should be brought for each one of them.


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Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,


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crying out, Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the Law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.


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(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)


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And all the city was in a commotion; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.


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Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.


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He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


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Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.


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And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be led away into the barracks.


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And when he reached the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.


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Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, May I speak to you? He replied, Do you speak Greek?


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Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up trouble and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?


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But Paul said, I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.


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So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,


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And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:


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I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' Law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.


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as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring even those who were there, bound, to Jerusalem to be punished.


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Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from Heaven shone around me.


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And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the words uttered by Him who spoke to me.


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So I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.


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And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.


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Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,


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came to me; and he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that same instant I looked up at him.


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Then he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice out of His mouth.


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And now why are you waiting? Arise and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.


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and saw Him saying to me, Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.


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And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.


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And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!


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the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined by scourging, so that he might know for what reason they shouted so against him.


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And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not condemned by trial?


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When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, Take heed what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman.


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And the commander answered, With a large sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was free born.


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Then immediately those who were about to examine him stood away from him; and the commander was also afraid after he fully knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.


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The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.


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Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.


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Then Paul said to him, God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the Law?


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Then Paul said, I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.


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But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!


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And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.


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For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection; and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.


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Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.


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And when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.


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But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good courage, Paul; for as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.


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And when it was day, some of the Jews made a pact and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.


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And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.


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Now you, therefore, together with the council, communicate to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make more specific inquiries concerning him; and we are ready to kill him before he comes near.


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Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.


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So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.


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Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside and asked privately, What is it that you have to tell me?


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And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to make more specific inquiries about him.


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But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.


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So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, Tell no one that you have disclosed these things to me.


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And he summoned two centurions, saying, Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;


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This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.


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I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or bonds.


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And when it was disclosed to me that the Jews were about to carry out a plot against the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.


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When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.


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And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,


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he said, I will fully hear you when your accusers also have come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.


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And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These made declarations to the governor against Paul.


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And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your providence,


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Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I entreat you to hear, by your fairness, a few words from us.


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For we have found this man pestilent, a mover of insurrection among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.


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He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and were determined to judge him according to our law.


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commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.


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Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully make my defense,


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because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to do homage.


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And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, neither in the synagogues nor throughout the city.


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But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I serve the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.


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I have hope in God, which they themselves also admit, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.


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in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a crowd nor with tumult.


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Or else let these themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,


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unless it is for this one statement which I cried out while standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.


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And when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he postponed judgment and said, When Lysias the commander comes down, I will examine your case.


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So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.


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And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.


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Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered, Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.


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Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.


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But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.


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Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews made a statement to him against Paul; and they petitioned him,


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asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.


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But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.


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Therefore, he said, let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, whatever there might be in him.


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And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.


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And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around and brought many serious complaints against Paul, which they were not able to prove.


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Defending himself he said, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I trespassed in anything at all.


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But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?


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Then Paul said, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.


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For if I have done wrong, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.


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Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go.


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And when they had been there many days, Festus set forth Paul's case before the king, saying: There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,


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about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.


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To them I answered, It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to make a defense concerning the charge against him.


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Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.


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but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.


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And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.


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But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.


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Then Agrippa said to Festus, I also would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him.


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So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was led out.


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And Festus said: King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.


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But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him.


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But I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.


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Then Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:


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I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall give a defense before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,


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especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.


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My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.


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They knew me from the first, if they were willing to bear witness, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.


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To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.


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This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.


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And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.


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While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,


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at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from Heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.


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And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.


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But arise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things in which I will appear to you.


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to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.


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but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.


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Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come to be;


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that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.


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Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!


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For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things are hidden from him, since this thing was not done in a corner.


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And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.


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When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;


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and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, This man is doing nothing deserving of death or bonds.


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And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.


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So, boarding a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.


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And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.


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And when we had set sail from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.


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And when we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.


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Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the fast was already past, Paul exhorted them,


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saying, Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.


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Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.


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And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.


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And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, raising anchor, they sailed close by Crete.


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When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the quicksands, they struck sail and so were driven.


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Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was then taken away.


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But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, Men, you should have heeded me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.


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And now I urge you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.


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saying, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.


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Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.


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And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.


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Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and wished for day to come.


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And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,


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Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.


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And as day was about to dawn, Paul begged them all to take food, saying, Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.


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Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, because not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.


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And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.


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And when it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a certain bay with a beach, onto which they purposed to run the ship if they were able.


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And they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder bands; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.


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But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.


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And the soldiers' purpose was to kill the prisoners, that not any of them should swim away and escape.


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But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land;


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and for the rest to go, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.


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And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.


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But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.


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So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.


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However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.


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In that region there were lands of the chief of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us for three days hospitably.


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And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.


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They also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.


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After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.


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From there we circled round and came to Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,


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where we found brethren, and were entreated to stay with them seven days. And thus we went toward Rome.


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And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.


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And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.


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And it came to pass after three days that Paul called those being chief of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,


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who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.


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But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.


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For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.


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Then they said to him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you.


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But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.


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So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.


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So when they did not agree among themselves, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,


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saying, Go to this people and say: Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive;


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for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, that they should not see with their eyes nor hear with their ears, that they should not understand with their hearts and turn, and I should heal them.


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Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!


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preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, without hindrance.


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and defined as the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.


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Through Him we have received grace and apostleship unto obedience of faith among all nations for His name,


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to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout all the world.


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For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,


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For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be strengthened;


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Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.


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For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who is believing, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


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For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; even as it is written, The just shall live by faith.


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For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,


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For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,


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because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened.


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and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.


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Therefore God also gives them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,


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who change the truth of God into the lie, and fear and serve the created things more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.


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For this reason God gives them up to vile passions. For even their women change the natural use for what is contrary to nature.


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Likewise also the men, abandoning the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men performing what is shameful, and receiving the retribution within themselves, the penalty which is fitting for their error.


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And even as they do not like to have God in their full true knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;


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being filled with every unrighteousness, sexual perversion, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, depravity; whisperers,


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defamers, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


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who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.


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Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judges, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.


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And do you think this, O man, you who judges those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?


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Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?


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But according to your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,


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but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; anger and wrath,


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trouble and anguish, on every soul of man who produces evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;


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but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


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For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned within the Law will be judged through the Law


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for when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do the things in the Law, these, although not having the Law, are a law to themselves,


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who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts meanwhile accusing or else excusing themselves)


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an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and truth in the Law.


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You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?


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You who say, Do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?


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For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteousness of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?


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And will not the naturally uncircumcised, if he fulfills the Law, judge you who, though having the writings and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Law?


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but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.


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Let it not be! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: That You may be found just in Your words, and may win the case when You are judged.


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But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who lays on wrath? (I speak as a man.)


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For if in my lie, the truth of God has abounded to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?


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And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil that good may come? Their condemnation is just.


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What then? Do we surpass them? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.


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They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.


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Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips;


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Now we know that whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.


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Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law is the full true knowledge of sin.


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But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,


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even the righteousness of God, through the faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe. For there is no difference;


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whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to give evidence of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,


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to prove at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus.


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Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,


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since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.


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For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.


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But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted unto righteousness,


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just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God accounts righteousness apart from works:


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Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.


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How then was it accounted? While he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.


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And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those believing through uncircumcision, that righteousness might be accounted to them also;


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and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham while still uncircumcised.


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For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.


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Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all


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(as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of Him whom he believed; God, who makes the dead alive and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;


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who, against hope, believed in hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, So shall your seed be.


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And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb;


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he did not hesitate at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,


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but also for us, to whom it shall be accounted, believing in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,


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through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice on the hope of the glory of God.


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And hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.


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For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some would even be bold enough to die.


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For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.


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And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.


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Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to every person, because everyone sinned.


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Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.


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But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.


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And the gift is not like it was through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one offense was unto condemnation, but the free gift from many offenses is unto justification.


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For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.


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Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment was to every person unto condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift is to every person unto justification of life.


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For as through one man's disobedience many were declared sinners, so also through one Man's obedience many will be declared righteous.


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Moreover the Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,


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so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into His death?


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Therefore we were buried with Him through immersion into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


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For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in resurrection,


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knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be nullified, that we should no longer serve sin.


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knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.


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For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives unto God.


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Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.


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Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?


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But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.


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I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness unto sanctification.


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What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.


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But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end, eternal life.


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Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the Law), that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?


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For the woman who has a husband is bound by the Law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.


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So then if, while her husband lives, she becomes another man's, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she becomes another man's.


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Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law through the body of Christ, that you may become Another's; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit unto God.


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For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin which were through the Law were at work in our members to bear fruit unto death.


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But now we have been loosed from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we should serve in the newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.


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What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Let it not be! On the contrary, I would not have understood sin except through the Law. For I would not have known lust unless the Law had said, You shall not covet.


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But sin, taking occasion through the commandment, produced in me every lust. For apart from the Law sin is dead.


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Has then that which is good become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear to be sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.


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For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I do not wish to do, that I do; moreover, what I hate, that I do.


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For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to desire is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.


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But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.


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I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.


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There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.


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For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh; and on account of sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,


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that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


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For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.


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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be.


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But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.


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And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.


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But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through His Spirit who dwells in you.


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For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


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For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.


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and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.


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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed unto us.


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because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.


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Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.


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For we were saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?


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Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.


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Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to God.


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And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.


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For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.


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Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.


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He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?


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Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, but rather is also raised, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.


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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?


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As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.


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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,


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nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,


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For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,


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who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God, and the promises;


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of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, is Christ, being God over all, blessed forever. Amen.


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Moreover, it is not as though the Word of God has fallen away. For not all those of Israel are Israel,


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nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac your Seed shall be called.


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That is, those who are the children of flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are accounted as seed.


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(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),


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For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.


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For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared in all the earth.


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No, rather, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why have you made me like this?


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Does not the potter have authority over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?


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What if God, determining to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath rendered fit unto destruction,


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and that He might make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand unto glory,


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As He says also in Hosea: I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.


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And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, There they shall be called, Sons of the living God.


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Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant will be saved.


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For He is fulfilling the Word and executing it quickly in righteousness, because the Lord will quickly execute the Word upon the earth.


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And as Isaiah said before: Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.


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What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have taken hold of righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;


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Why? Because it was not by faith, but as out of works of the Law. For they stumbled at the stumbling stone.


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As it is written: Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and everyone believing on Him will not be put to shame.


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For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.


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For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the Law, The man who does those things shall live by them.


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But the righteousness of faith speaks in this manner, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down)


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But what does it say? The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the Word of Faith which we preach):


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that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.


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For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


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For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich toward all who call upon Him.


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How then shall they call on Him into whom they do not believe? And how shall they believe Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?


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And how shall they preach if they are not sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those preaching the gospel of peace, bringing glad tidings of good things.


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But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.


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But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.


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But Isaiah is very bold and says: I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those not inquiring after Me.


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But to Israel he says: All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contradicting people.


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I say then, has God cast away His people? Let it not be! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.


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God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,


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Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.


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But what does the Divine response say to him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.


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And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace no longer becomes grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.


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What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were hardened.


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Just as it is written: God has given them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.


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And David says: Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a recompense to them.


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I say then, have they stumbled that they should come to an end? Let it not be! But through their trespass, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.


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Now if their trespass is riches for the world; and their diminishing, riches for the Gentiles; how much more their fullness.


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For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their reception be but life from the dead?


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And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,


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do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.


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Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be highminded, but fear.


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Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: On those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.


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And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.


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For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree.


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For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, that you not be wise within yourselves, that hardness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.


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And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;


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Indeed, concerning the gospel they are enemies because of you, but concerning the election they are beloved because of the fathers.


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Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!


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I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.


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And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


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For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to understand with a sound mind, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.


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But having different gifts according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith;


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he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with simplicity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.


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Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, leading the way before one another in honor;


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Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own opinion.


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Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.


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Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.


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Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are ordained by God.


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Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will receive judgment on themselves.


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For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.


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For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.


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For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.


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Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.


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For: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not covet; and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.


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And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.


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The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.


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Let us walk decently, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkenness, not in cohabitation and licentiousness, not in strife and envy.


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Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.


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Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.


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One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully assured in his own mind.


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He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord; and he who does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.


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For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.


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For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord over both the dead and the living.


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But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you treat your brother as being of no account? For everyone shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ.


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For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.


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Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a snare in our brother's way.


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I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.


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Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.


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for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


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Do not bring to naught the work of God on account of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man whose eating causes a stumbling block.


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It is good not to eat flesh nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is enticed to sin or is made weak.


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Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.


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But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not out of faith; for whatever is not out of faith is sin.


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For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.


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For whatever things were written before were written for our instruction, that we through the patience and encouragement of the Scriptures might have hope.


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Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of the same mind toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,


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Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises unto the fathers,


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and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing unto Your name.


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And again, Isaiah says: There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.


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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


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Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.


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Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,


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that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


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For I will not dare to speak of anything which Christ has not accomplished through me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles in word and deed;


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in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fulfilled the preaching of the gospel of Christ.


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And so I have striven to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, so that I should not build on another man's foundation,


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but as it is written: To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.


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But now no longer having a place in these regions, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,


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whenever I may journey to Spain, I shall come to you; for I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may be filled with your company briefly.


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For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make certain gifts for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.


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For it seemed good to them, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, it is also their duty to minister to them in carnal things.


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Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go through you to Spain.


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But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.


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Now I exhort you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf,


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that I may be delivered from those in Judea who are disobedient, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,


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that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.


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who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.


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Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.


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Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.


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Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.


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Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.


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Now I exhort you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and snares, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.


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For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.


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For your obedience has reached to everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise unto what is good, and simple toward evil.


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And the God of peace will trample Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.


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Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.


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Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent since the world began,


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but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, for obedience to the faith;


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to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:


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so that you are not lacking in any gift, patiently waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Now I exhort you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be completely fitted together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


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For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.


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Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.


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Yes, I also immersed the household of Stephanas. Besides that, I do not know whether I immersed any others.


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For Christ did not send me to immerse, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.


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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


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For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent.


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Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?


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For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who are believing.


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For you see your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many of nobility.


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But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty;


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and the low-born of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,


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But out of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who was made for us from God wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;


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And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the Testimony of God.


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And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of human wisdom, but in proof of the Spirit and of power,


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However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature; but not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.


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But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, having been hidden, which God appointed before the ages for our glory,


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which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


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But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it dawned upon the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.


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But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.


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For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.


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Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.


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These things we also speak, not in words which human wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


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But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he is not able to know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


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And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.


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I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able, and even now you are still not able;


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for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like men?


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Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believe, as the Lord gave to each one?


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Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.


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According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.


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each one's work will be revealed; for the Day will declare it, because it will be disclosed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.


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If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.


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If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.


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Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.


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For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness;


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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come; all are yours.


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But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human day in court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.


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For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.


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Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will be from God.


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Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up one over the other.


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For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?


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You are already full. You are already rich. You have reigned as kings without us; and indeed I wish you truly did reign, that we also might reign with you.


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For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we became spectacles to all creation, both to angels and to men.


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We are foolish because of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are distinguished, but we are dishonored.


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To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and wander homeless.


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being defamed, we entreat. We have become as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.


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For though you might have countless instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.


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For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.


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But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.


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Everywhere it is heard that there is sexual perversion among you, and such sexual perversion as is not even named among the Gentiles; that a man has his father's wife.


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And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be removed out from among your midst.


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For indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, I have already judged him who has so done this deed, as though I were present.


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In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.


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Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


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Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.


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But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person.


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For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?


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Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?


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Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


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If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge.


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I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise person among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?


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Now therefore, it is already an utter failure with you that you go to court against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather be defrauded?


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Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be led astray. Neither prostitutes, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,


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nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.


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And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.


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All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved under the power of any.


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Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual perversion but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Let it not be!


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Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? For the two, He says, shall become one flesh.


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Flee sexual perversion. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.


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Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?


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For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.


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Nevertheless, because of sexual perversion, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband.


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Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.


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The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.


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Do not deprive one another except by agreement for a time, that you may be free for fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


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For I wish that all men were even as myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.


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but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be on fire.


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But, indeed, in case she does leave, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to send away his wife.


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But to the rest I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, let him not send her away.


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And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, if he is willing to live with her, let her not leave him.


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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.


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But if the unbeliever leaves, let them leave; a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us in peace.


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For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?


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But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I command in all the churches.


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Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.


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Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you are able to be made free, rather use it.


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For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.


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Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one who, having received mercy from the Lord, is faithful.


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I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present necessity; that it is good for a man to be thus:


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But also if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I am sparing you.


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But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that even those who have wives should be as though they had none,


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those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,


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But I want you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord; how to please the Lord.


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There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world; how to please her husband.


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And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.


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But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and it is the duty, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let him marry.


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Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has control over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep himself a virgin, does well.


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A wife is bound by Law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.


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But she is happier if she remains so, according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.


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Now concerning sacrifices to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


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Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one.


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For even if there are so-called gods, whether in the heavens or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),


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yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him.


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However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.


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But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat do we excel, nor if we do not eat are we lacking.


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For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat things offered to idols?


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But when you sin in this way against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.


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Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh, so that I not make my brother stumble.


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Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?


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If I am not an apostle to others, yet at least I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?


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Who ever serves military duty at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?


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For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about?


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Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.


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If others are partakers of this authority over you, should we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this authority, but endure all things so that we might not hinder the gospel of Christ.


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Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the altar?


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But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so with me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my exulting void.


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For if I preach the gospel, there is no glory to me, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.


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For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.


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What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.


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and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain those who are under the Law;


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to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under the Law toward Christ), that I might gain those who are without law;


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to the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might in any way save some.


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Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.


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And everyone who competes for the prize controls himself in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we an imperishable.


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But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.


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Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,


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and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank out of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.


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Now these things became examples for us, so that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.


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Neither become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.


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Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them prostituted, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;


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Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.


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No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also provide a way out, that you may be able to bear it.


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The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ. The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ.


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Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.


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All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things build up.


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If any of those who do not believe invite you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, not questioning because of conscience.


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But if anyone says to you, This was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who informed you, and because of conscience; for the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness.


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Conscience, I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another's conscience?


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just as I also strive to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own profit, but of the many, in order that they may be saved.


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Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the decrees just as I delivered them to you.


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But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.


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But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaven.


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For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.


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For a man indeed ought not to veil his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.


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But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her in place of a wrap.


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Now in this that I command you, I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.


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For first of all, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.


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For there need to also be heresies among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.


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For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.


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What? Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.


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For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;


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and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken on behalf of you; do this in remembrance of Me.


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In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.


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For as often as you may eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.


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Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.


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For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not making a distinction regarding the Lord's body.


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But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, that you may not come together unto judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.


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You know that you were Gentiles, led away regarding these mute idols, in whatever manner you were led.


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Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.


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And there are different distributions of works, but it is the same God who works each and every work.


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for to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another a word of knowledge through the same Spirit,


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to another works of power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another tongues of nationalities, to another the interpretation of tongues.


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But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.


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For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.


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For by one Spirit we were all immersed into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.


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If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?


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And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?


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If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?


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And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.


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And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, we clothe them with greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have abundant elegance,


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but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given more abundant honor to that part which is lacking,


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that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.


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And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.


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And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, governings, tongues of nationalities.


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Not everyone is an apostle are they? Not everyone is a prophet? Not everyone is a teacher? Not everyone is a worker of power?


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If I were to speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.


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And if I were to have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I were to have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.


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And if I were to bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I were to give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.


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Love is longsuffering and is kind; love does not envy; love does not boast itself, is not puffed up;


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Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will come to an end; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will come to an end.


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When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put an end to childish things.


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For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know just as I also am fully known.


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For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.


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I wish you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive building up.


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But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?


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Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they present different musical notes, how will it be known what is piped or played?


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So likewise you, if you do not utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.


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There are, it may be, so many ethnic languages in the world, and none of them is without its own speech.


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Therefore, if I do not know the dynamics of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.


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Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual matters, seek to excel in the building up of the church.


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What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.


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Otherwise, if you praise in the spirit, how will he who occupies the place set apart for the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?


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yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be infants, but in understanding be mature.


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In the Law it is written: With men of other languages and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me, says the Lord.


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Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.


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Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and everyone speaks in tongues, and there come in those who are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that you are not in your right minds?


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But if everyone prophesies, and an unbeliever or an unlearned person comes in, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all.


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And thus the secrets of his heart become revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will do homage to God and proclaim that God is truly among you.


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How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.


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If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.


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But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.


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Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be in subjection, as the Law also says.


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And if they desire to learn something, let them question their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.


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If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.


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Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,


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by which also you are being kept safe, if you hold fast that Word which I preached to you; unless you believe in vain.


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For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,


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After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until the present time, but some have fallen asleep.


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For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than every one of them, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


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Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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Yes, and we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up; if in fact the dead are not raised.


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But now Christ has been raised from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.


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But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.


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Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.


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For He has subjected everything under His feet. But when He says everything is subjected, it is evident that He who subjected everything under Him is exempt.


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Now when everything is subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him who subjected everything under Him, that God may be everything in all things.


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Otherwise, what will they do who are immersed for the dead, if the dead are not truly raised? Why then are they immersed for the dead?


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If like other men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what profit is it to me, if the dead are not raised? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!


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Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak to your shame.


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And what you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but mere grain; perhaps wheat or something else.


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Not every flesh is the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.


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There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the brightness of the heavenly is one, and the brightness of the earthly is another.


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There is one brightness of the sun, another brightness of the moon, and another brightness of the stars; for one star differs from another star in brightness.


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It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.


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As is the man of dust, so also are those of dust; and as is the Man from Heaven, so also are those of Heaven.


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And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Man of Heaven.


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Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.


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in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


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So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.


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Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.


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Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so also you do:


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On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up from whatever he is prospered, that there be no collections when I come.


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And when I come, whomever you approve through letters I will send to carry your good will to Jerusalem.


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And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me forward wherever I may go.


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For I do not desire to see you now in passing; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.


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Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.


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Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his way in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.


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Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but it was not at all his desire to come at this time; however, he will come when he has opportunity.


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I encourage you, brethren; you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have appointed themselves to the ministry of the saints;


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I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied.


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The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.


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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort,


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who encourages us in all our affliction, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, through the comfort by which we ourselves are encouraged by God.


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Now if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, being effective in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are encouraged, it is for your comfort and salvation.


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And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the comfort.


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For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened exceedingly, beyond strength, so that we despaired even of life.


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Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,


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who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us, in whom we hope that He will still deliver us,


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you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given through many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift granted to us by many.


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For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.


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For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. And I hope you will understand, even to the end


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(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your rejoicing as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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to journey on through you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be sent by you on towards Judea.


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Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you through us; through me, Silvanus, and Timothy; was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.


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For as many promises as are of God, in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God through us.


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Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers of your joy; for by faith you stand.


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For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?


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And I wrote this very thing to you, that, when I came, I should not have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.


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For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, through many tears, not that you should be sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.


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But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part; that I may not be overbearing on everyone.


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so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and encourage him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.


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For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.


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Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one through you in the person of Christ,


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Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,


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I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.


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Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us manifests the aroma of His knowledge in every place.


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For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.


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To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?


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For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the sight of God.


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Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, letters of commendation to you or commendation from you?


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Clearly you are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but in tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.


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Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being out of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,


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who also made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.


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But if the ministry of death, written and engraved in stone, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which was passing away,


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For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, even more the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.


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not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.


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But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Covenant, which is being done away in Christ.


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But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.


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But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God.


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whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.


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For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.


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For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


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But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not from us.


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always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.


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For we who live are always delivered to death because of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


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And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believe and therefore I speak, we also believe and therefore speak,


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knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up through Jesus, and will present us with you.


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For all things are for you, that the grace may excel through the greater numbers, and cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.


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Therefore we do not faint. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.


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For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is achieving for us a surpassing and eternal weight of glory,


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while we do not contemplate the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


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For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in Heaven.


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For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.


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Now He who has fashioned us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the earnest of the Spirit.


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So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.


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We are confident, yes, preferring rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.


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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


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Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are well known to God, and I also hope are well known in your consciences.


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For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to rejoice on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.


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and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again.


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Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.


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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.


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Now all things are from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,


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that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation.


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Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As God is exhorting through us, we beseech you on Christ's behalf, Be reconciled to God.


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For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


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For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.


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But in all things commending ourselves as ministers of God; in much endurance, in afflictions, in needs, in distresses,


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in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, through the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,


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as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not put to death;


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as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.


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Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?


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And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.


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Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.


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Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


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I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.


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Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my rejoicing on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.


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For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were fightings, inside were fears.


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and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was encouraged in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.


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For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the letter made you sorry, even if for a while.


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Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry unto repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.


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For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.


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For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vengeance! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.


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Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.


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Therefore we have been encouraged in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.


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For if in anything I have exulted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our exulting to Titus was found true.


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And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.


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that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.


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For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,


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imploring us with much entreating that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.


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And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and also to us through the will of God.


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But as you abound in everything (in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us), see that you abound in this grace also.


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I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the diligence of others.


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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.


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And in this I give advice: It is profitable for you not only to be doing what you began and were intending to do a year ago;


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but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was an eagerness to purpose it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.


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For if something is presented eagerly, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.


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but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack; that there may be equality.


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As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.


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and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself, and your ready mind,


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And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.


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If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; or our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.


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Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our exulting on your behalf.


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for I know your willingness, about which I exult of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.


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Yet I have sent the brethren, that our exulting of you should not be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;


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lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed in this confident exulting.


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Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your bounty beforehand, which you had previously announced, that it may be ready as a blessing and not as greed.


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But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.


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So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not from sorrow or out of duty; for God loves a cheerful giver.


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And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound for every good work.


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As it is written: He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.


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Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,


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while you are enriched in everything unto all sincerity, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.


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For the ministry of this service not only supplies what is lacking to the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,


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through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for your professed obedience to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,


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Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and fairness of Christ; who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.


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But I beseech you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I figure on being bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.


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casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ,


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Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.


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For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;


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For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.


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Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word through letters when we are absent, such we are also in deed when we are present.


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For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.


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We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God distributed to us; a measure which reaches even unto you.


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For we are not overextending ourselves (as though not extending to you), for we also came as far as to you with the gospel of Christ;


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not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is growing, according to our rule, being greatly enlarged to overflowing,


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in order to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another's measure of accomplishment.


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For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.


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But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.


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For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it.


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Even though I am unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge; but have been fully exposed to you in all things.


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Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you freely?


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And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.


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But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.


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Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.


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I say again, let no one think me to be foolish. Otherwise if not, at least receive me as being foolish, that I also may boast a little.


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What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.


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For you endure if someone brings you into bondage, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you on the face.


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I speak in dishonor, as though we had been weak. But in whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also.


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Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I excel them: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.


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Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;


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in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;


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in hardship and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness;


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In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, intending to arrest me;


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It is really not profitable for me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.


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I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows); such a one was caught up to the third Heaven.


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how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.


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For though I might desire to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, that no one should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.


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And so that I should not be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I should not be made haughty.


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And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather exult in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell upon me.


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Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


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I have become foolish in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.


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Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.


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For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.


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Now the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.


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And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.


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I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?


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Again, do you think that we defend ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.


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For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, evil speakings, whisperings, conceits, commotions;


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that it not be, when I come again, that my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, sexual perversities, and licentiousness which they have practiced.


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This will be the third time I am coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.


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I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare;


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For though He was crucified out of weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.


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Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know, yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you; unless indeed you are ones failing the test?


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Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear acceptable, but that you should do what is honorable, even though we may seem to be unacceptable.


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For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.


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Therefore I write these things being absent, that when present I should not use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for pulling down.


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Finally, brethren, rejoice. Become complete. Be encouraged, be of one mind, be at peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.


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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.


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Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),


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who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


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I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,


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which is not another; but there are some who trouble you, even determined to pervert the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.


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As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.


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For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.


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But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.


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For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.


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And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


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to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood,


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nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.


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Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to inquire of Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.


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But they were hearing only, He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.


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And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.


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And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),


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to whom we did not yield in submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.


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But those who seemed to be something (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal regard to no man), those who seemed to be important added nothing to me.


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But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter


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(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),


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and when Jacob, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.


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for before certain men came from Jacob, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.


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And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.


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But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to Judaize?


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knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through the faith of Jesus Christ, even we believe into Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.


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But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Let it not be.


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I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.


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I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died in vain.


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O foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?


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This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?


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Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and displays works of power in you, does He do it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?


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And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, In you all the nations shall be blessed.


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For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them.


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But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident; for, The just shall live by faith.


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Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree),


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that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


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Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.


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Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to your Seed, who is Christ.


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And this I say, A covenant having been established before by God in Christ, the Law coming into being four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul the promise, so as to abolish it.


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For if the inheritance is of the Law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.


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What purpose then does the Law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.


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Is the Law then against the promises of God? Let it not be. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been out of the Law.


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But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those believing.


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But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.


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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


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Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,


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But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, brought forth out of a woman, brought forth under the Law,


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And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father!


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But now, knowing God, or rather being known by God, how is it that you turn again to the feeble and worthless principles, to which you desire again to be in bondage?


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And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.


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What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.


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They zealously pursue you, but not well; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.


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But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,


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which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;


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for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children;


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For it is written: Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear. Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor. For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.


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But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.


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Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.


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Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.


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You have become cut off from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace.


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.


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I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be.


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And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.


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For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.


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For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.


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Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, sexual perversion, uncleanness, licentiousness,


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idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,


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envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself that you not also be tempted.


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But let each one prove his own work, and then he alone will have rejoicing in himself, and not in another.


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For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life.


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Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.


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As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.


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For not even those who are circumcised keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.


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But may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.


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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ,


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just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love,


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having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,


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In Him we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace


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having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,


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that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might sum up in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth; in Him.


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In Him also we have been assigned to an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,


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In whom also, after you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,


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who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.


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that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full true knowledge of Him,


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the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,


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and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, who believe according to the working of His mighty power


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which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,


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far above all rule and authority and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.


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in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,


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among whom also we all formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others;


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that in the ages to come He might display the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.


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For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.


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Therefore remember that you, being Gentiles in the flesh; who are called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands;


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that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.


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For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,


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having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,


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and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.


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Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,


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having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,


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which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:


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that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,


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of which I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.


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To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,


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and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;


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to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies,


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that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,


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to know the surpassing knowledge and love of Christ; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,


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I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,


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(Now this, He ascended; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?


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He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)


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And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,


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for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,


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till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the full true knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;


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that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,


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from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every individual does its part, causes growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


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This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the emptiness of their mind,


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having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;


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who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.


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that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which is corrupted according to the deceitful lusts,


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and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.


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Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.


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Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.


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Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for the business of building up, that it may impart grace to the hearers.


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Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all wickedness.


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And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.


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And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.


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But sexual perversion and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;


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neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.


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For this you know, that no prostitute, unclean person, nor covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


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Let no one beguile you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.


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But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.


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Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, stand forth out from among the dead, and Christ will shine on you.


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speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,


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For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.


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Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.


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that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.


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For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.


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For this, a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.


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Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she reverence her husband.


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And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.


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Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;


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not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,


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knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.


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And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in Heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.


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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.


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Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.


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Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,


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above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.


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praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;


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and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,


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But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you,


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whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may encourage your hearts.


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Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers:


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being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ;


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just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of the grace.


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And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full true knowledge and all discernment,


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that you may examine the things that differ, that you may be sincere and without blame unto the day of Christ,


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But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,


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so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;


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and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.


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The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds;


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What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.


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For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,


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according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.


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But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I do not know.


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For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.


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And being persuaded of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,


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Only, let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,


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and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.


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For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,


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Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,


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Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or self-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others as surpassing himself.


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And being found comprised as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


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that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,


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Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your salvation with fear and trembling;


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that you may be blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,


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holding fast the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.


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Yes, and if I am being poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.


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But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.


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Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;


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For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow.


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Therefore I send him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.


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because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.


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Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.


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For we are the circumcision, who serve God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in the flesh,


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though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:


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circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to the Law, a Pharisee;


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concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the Law, blameless.


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But no, rather, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, that I may gain Christ


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and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;


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that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,


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Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold, since Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.


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Brethren, I do not count myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and stretching forward to those things which are ahead,


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Therefore let us, as many as are complete, be of this mind; and if in anything you think differently, God will reveal even this to you.


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Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.


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For many conduct themselves, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:


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whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and who glory in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things.


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For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,


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who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subject all things to Himself.


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Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, beloved.


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And I urge you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.


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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;


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and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


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Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.


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The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these, and the God of peace will be with you.


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But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.


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I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in everything I am taught both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to lack.


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Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.


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Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.


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to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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because of the hope being laid up for you in Heaven, of which you heard before in the Word of the Truth of the gospel,


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which has come to you, as in all the world, and is bearing fruit, as it is also among you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;


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even as you also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you,


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For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the full true knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;


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that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing into the full true knowledge of God;


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strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;


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giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;


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who has delivered us from the authority of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,


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For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.


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And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn out from the dead, that in all things He may be preeminent.


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and by Him making peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in the heavens.


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And you, who once were alienated and hostile in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled


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in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and without blemish, and above reproach in His sight;


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if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under Heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a minister.


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I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, on behalf of His body, which is the church,


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of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God,


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the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.


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To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


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Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ Jesus.


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For I want you to know what a great struggle I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,


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that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full true knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,


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For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.


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being rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.


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Beware that no one rob you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.


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In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,


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buried with Him in immersion, in which you also were raised with Him through the faith of the working of God, who raised Him out from the dead.


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And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,


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having blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;


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having disarmed rulers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.


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Let no one condemn you, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, being puffed up without cause by his fleshly mind,


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and not holding fast to the Head; from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.


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Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to decrees;


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which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men?


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These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-devised worship, false humility, and severity in abuse of the body, but are of no value against gratification of the flesh.


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If then you are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.


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Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: sexual perversion, uncleanness, passion, evil lusts, and covetousness, which is idolatry.


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But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.


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and have put on the new man who is renewed in full true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him,


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where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all.


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Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;


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bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.


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And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.


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Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.


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And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father, through Him.


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Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.


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knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.


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Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven.


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meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,


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Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.


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Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you everything about me.


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I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and encourage your hearts,


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with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.


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Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),


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and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have been a comfort to me.


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Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand complete and full-grown in all the will of God;


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for I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.


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Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.


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And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.


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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,


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For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know of what sort we were among you for your sake.


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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,


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For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.


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For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,


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and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the coming wrath.


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But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak the gospel of God to you in much conflict.


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But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.


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For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor in pretense of covetousness; God is witness.


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Nor did we seek honor from men, either from you or from others, when we might have been authoritative as apostles of Christ.


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So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you had become beloved to us.


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For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.


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You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and uprightly and blamelessly we were among you who believe;


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as you know how we exhorted, and encouraged, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,


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For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.


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For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,


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who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have driven us out; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,


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forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the end.


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But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly, with great desire, to see your face.


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For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.


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and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,


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that no one should be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.


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For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we were about to suffer affliction, just as it happened, and you know.


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For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.


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But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also desire to see you;


