# verses

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From then on, Jesus began to tell people, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!"


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As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.


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As Jesus went on, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee preparing their nets to go fishing. He called them,


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Jesus went all over Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness among the people.


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The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and he cured them all.


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Large crowds followed him. They came from Galilee, the Ten Cities, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.


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"Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.


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Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.


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"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.


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Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.


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"You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.


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No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.


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In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.


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"Don't ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn't come to set them aside but to make them come true.


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I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true.


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So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


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I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God's approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


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"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.'


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But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.


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"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you,


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leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.


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"Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.


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But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.


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"So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.


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And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.


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But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.


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"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.'


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But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well.


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Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.


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In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust.


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"Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you.


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So when you give to the poor, don't announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.


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"When you pray, don't be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.


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When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.


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"When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they're fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.


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Then your fasting won't be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.


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"Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.


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Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don't destroy and thieves don't break in and steal.


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"The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light.


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But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be!


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"No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth.


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"So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothes?


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"Look at the birds. They don't plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?


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"And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes.


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That's the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it's alive, and tomorrow it's thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?


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"Don't ever worry and say, 'What are we going to eat?' or 'What are we going to drink?' or 'What are we going to wear?'


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Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them.


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But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.


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"So don't ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


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Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.


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So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?


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How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye?


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You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye.


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"Don't give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.


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Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened.


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Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?


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"Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is {the meaning of} Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.


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"Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate.


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But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.


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"Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves.


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You will know them by what they produce. "People don't pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they?


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"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants.


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Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?'


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"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock.


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Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock.


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"Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand.


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Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster."


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A man with a serious skin disease came and bowed down in front of him. The man said to Jesus, "Sir, if you're willing, you can make me clean."


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Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, "I'm willing. So be clean!" Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.


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Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."


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The officer responded, "Sir, I don't deserve to have you come into my house. But just give a command, and my servant will be healed.


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As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it."


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Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He said to those who were following him, "I can guarantee this truth: I haven't found faith as great as this in anyone in Israel.


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I can guarantee that many will come from all over the world. They will eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.


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The citizens of that kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.


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Jesus told the officer, "Go! What you believed will be done for you." And at that moment the servant was healed.


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In the evening the people brought him many who were possessed by demons. He forced the {evil} spirits out of people with a command and cured everyone who was sick.


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So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true: "He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases."


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Now, when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he ordered {his disciples} to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.


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Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping.


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Jesus said to them, "Why do you cowards have so little faith?" Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm.


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When he arrived in the territory of the Gadarenes on the other side {of the Sea of Galilee}, two men met him. They were possessed by demons and had come out of the tombs. No one could travel along that road because the men were so dangerous.


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They shouted, "Why are you bothering us now, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before it is time?"


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Jesus said to them, "Go!" The demons came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.


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Those who took care of the pigs ran into the city. There they reported everything, especially about the men possessed by demons.


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Everyone from the city went to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory.


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Some people brought him a paralyzed man on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Cheer up, friend! Your sins are forgiven."


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I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."


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When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such authority to humans.


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When Jesus was leaving that place, he saw a man sitting in a tax office. The man's name was Matthew. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Matthew got up and followed him.


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Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.


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The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"


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Learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifices.' I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."


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Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?"


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Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests be sad while the groom is still with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.


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"No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. When the patch shrinks, it will rip away from the coat, and the tear will become worse.


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Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, people pour new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved."


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A {synagogue} leader came to Jesus while he was talking to John's disciples. He bowed down in front of Jesus and said, "My daughter just died. Come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."


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Then a woman came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. She had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years.


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When Jesus turned and saw her he said, "Cheer up, daughter! Your faith has made you well." At that very moment the woman became well.


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When Jesus left that place, two blind men followed him. They shouted, "Have mercy on us, Son of David."


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Jesus went into a house, and the blind men followed him. He said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they answered.


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As they were leaving, some people brought a man to Jesus. The man was unable to talk because he was possessed by a demon.


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But as soon as the demon was forced out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, "We have never seen anything like this in Israel!"


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Jesus went to all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues and spread the Good News of the kingdom. He also cured every disease and sickness.


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When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.


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Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to force evil spirits out of people and to cure every disease and sickness.


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These are the names of the twelve apostles: first and foremost, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee;


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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James (son of Alphaeus), and Thaddaeus;


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Jesus sent these twelve out with the following instructions: "Don't go among people who are not Jewish or into any Samaritan city.


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Cure the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse those with skin diseases, and force demons out of people. Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.


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Don't take a traveling bag for the trip, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met.


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"When you go into a city or village, look for people who will listen to you there. Stay with them until you leave {that place}.


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If it is a family that listens to you, allow your greeting to stand. But if it is not receptive, take back your greeting.


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If anyone doesn't welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet.


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Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world.


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When they hand you over {to the authorities}, don't worry about what to say or how to say it. When the time comes, you will be given what to say.


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Indeed, you're not the ones who will be speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.


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"Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them.


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Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who patiently endures to the end will be saved.


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So when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. I can guarantee this truth: Before you have gone through every city in Israel, the Son of Man will come.


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It is enough for a student to become like his teacher and a slave like his owner. If they have called the owner of the house Beelzebul, they will certainly call the family members the same name.


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So don't be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known.


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Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered.


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Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.


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"Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission.


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"So I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others.


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But I will tell my Father in heaven that I don't know the person who tells others that he doesn't know me.


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I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.


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"The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.


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The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.


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"The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.


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The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. The person who welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.


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I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward."


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After Jesus finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he moved on from there to teach his message in their cities.


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Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.


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As they were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. "What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?


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Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes are in royal palaces.


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John is the one about whom Scripture says, 'I'm sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.'


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"I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.


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From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it.


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"How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children,


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'We played music for you, but you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn't show any sadness.'


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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' "Yet, wisdom is proved right by its actions."


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Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted.


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"How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted long ago in sackcloth and ashes.


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And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go down to hell! If the miracles that had been worked in you had been worked in Sodom, it would still be there today.


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At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.


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"My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.


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Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves


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Then on a day of worship Jesus walked through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain to eat.


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When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship."


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Haven't you read how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of the presence? He and his men had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right.


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Or haven't you read in Moses' Teachings that on the day of worship the priests in the temple do things they shouldn't on the day of worship yet remain innocent?


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If you had known what 'I want mercy, not sacrifices' means, you would not have condemned innocent people.


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A man with a paralyzed hand was there. The people asked Jesus whether it was right to heal on a day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.


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Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you has a sheep. If it falls into a pit on a day of worship, wouldn't you take hold of it and lift it out?


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Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and it became normal again, as healthy as the other.


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"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, whom I love, and in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will announce justice to the nations.


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He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick until he has made justice victorious.


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Then some people brought Jesus a man possessed by a demon. The demon made the man blind and unable to talk. Jesus cured him so that he could talk and see.


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When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons."


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Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last.


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If I force demons out of people with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That's why they will be your judges.


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How can anyone go into a strong man's house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.


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So I can guarantee that people will be forgiven for any sin or cursing. However, cursing the Spirit will not be forgiven.


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Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world or the next.


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"Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good. Or make a tree rotten, and then its fruit will be rotten. A person can recognize a tree by its fruit.


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You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.


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Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.


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"I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say.


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He responded, "The people of an evil and unfaithful era look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah.


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Just as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.


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The men of Nineveh will stand up with you at the time of judgment and will condemn you, because they turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!


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The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here!


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"When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find any.


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Then it says, 'I'll go back to the home I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and in order.


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Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before. That is what will happen to the evil people of this day."


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While Jesus was still talking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside. They wanted to talk to him.


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The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat. He sat in the boat while the entire crowd stood on the shore.


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Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, "Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.


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Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep.


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But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren't deep enough.


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But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.


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Jesus answered, "Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.


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Those who understand {these mysteries} will be given {more knowledge}, and they will excel {in understanding them}. However, some people don't understand {these mysteries}. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.


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This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they're blind. They hear, but they don't listen. They don't even try to understand.


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So they make Isaiah's prophecy come true: 'You will hear clearly but never understand. You will see clearly but never comprehend.


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These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never return to me for healing!'


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I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God's people longed to see what you see but didn't see it, to hear what you hear but didn't hear it.


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Someone hears the word about the kingdom but doesn't understand it. The evil one comes at once and snatches away what was planted in him. This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates.


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The seed planted on rocky ground {is the person who} hears the word and accepts it at once with joy.


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Since he doesn't have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls {from faith}.


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The seed planted among thornbushes {is another person who} hears the word. But the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of riches choke the word so that it can't produce anything.


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But the seed planted on good ground {is the person who} hears and understands the word. This type produces crops. They produce one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted."


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Jesus used another illustration. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.


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"The owner's workers came to him and asked, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'


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Let both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I'll have them bring the wheat into my barn.' "


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Jesus used another illustration. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field.


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It's one of the smallest seeds. However, when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants. It becomes a tree that is large enough for birds to nest in its branches."


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He used another illustration. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough."


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Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story.


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So what the prophet had said came true: "I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made."


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When Jesus had sent the people away, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain what the illustration of the weeds in the field means."


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The field is the world. The good seeds are those who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those who belong to the evil one.


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The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The workers are angels.


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The Son of Man will send his angels. They will gather everything in his kingdom that causes people to sin and everyone who does evil.


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Then the people who have God's approval will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!


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"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field.


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"Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea. It gathered all kinds of fish.


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When it was full, they pulled it to the shore. Then they sat down, gathered the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away.


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The same thing will happen at the end of time. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from people who have God's approval.


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Then the angels will throw the evil people into a blazing furnace. They will cry and be in extreme pain there.


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So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure chest."


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Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue in a way that amazed them. People were asking, "Where did this man get this wisdom and the power to do these miracles?


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Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers' names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?


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So they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "The only place a prophet isn't honored is in his hometown and in his own house."


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He said to his officials, "This is John the Baptizer! He has come back to life. That's why he has the power to perform these miracles."


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Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did this for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.


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So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.


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When Herod celebrated his birthday, Herodias' daughter danced for his guests. Herod was so delighted with her that


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The king regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted.


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When Jesus heard about John, he left in a boat and went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds heard about this and followed him on foot from the cities.


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When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and cured their sick people.


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In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late. Send the crowds to the villages to buy food for themselves."


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Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart, gave them to the disciples, and they gave them to the people.


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All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.


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About five thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)


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Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away.


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After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.


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The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.


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When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, "It's a ghost!" and began to scream because they were afraid.


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But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, "Lord, save me!"


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Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, "You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?"


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The men there recognized Jesus and sent messengers all around the countryside. The people brought him everyone who was sick.


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They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.


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"Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat."


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For example, God said, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.'


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But you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'I have given to God whatever support you might have received from me,'


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does not have to honor his father. Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word.


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What goes into a person's mouth doesn't make him unclean. It's what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean."


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Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you realize that when the Pharisees heard your statement they were offended?"


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Leave them alone! They are blind leaders. When one blind person leads another, both will fall into the same pit."


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Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, {other} sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within.


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These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating without washing one's hands doesn't make a person unclean."


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A Canaanite woman from that territory came {to him} and began to shout, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon."


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But he did not answer her at all. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us."


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Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, you have strong faith! What you wanted will be done for you." At that moment her daughter was cured.


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Jesus moved on from there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain and sat there.


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A large crowd came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, disabled, those unable to talk, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he cured them.


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The crowd was amazed to see mute people talking, the disabled cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. So they praised the God of Israel.


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Jesus called his disciples and said, "I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they may become exhausted on their way home."


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His disciples asked him, "Where could we get enough bread to feed such a crowd in this place where no one lives?"


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Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They answered, "Seven, and a few small fish."


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He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and they gave the bread and fish to the people.


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All of them ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.


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After he sent the people on their way, Jesus stepped into the boat and came to the territory of Magadan.


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The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.


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And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.


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"Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah." Then he left them standing there and went away.


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The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along when they went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.


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Jesus knew about their conversation and asked, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you don't have any bread? You have so little faith!


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Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you filled?


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Why don't you understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"


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Then they understood that he didn't say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"


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They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."


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Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you.


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You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.


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I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free."


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From that time on Jesus began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, chief priests, and scribes. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.


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Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, "Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!"


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But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren't thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think."


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Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.


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Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.


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What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life?


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The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done.


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I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."


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After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.


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Jesus' appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light.


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Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good that we're here. If you want, I'll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!"


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On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life."


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Actually, I can guarantee that Elijah has already come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased because they didn't recognize him. In the same way they're going to make the Son of Man suffer."


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Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!"


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Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we force the demon out of the boy?"


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He told them, "Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."


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While they were traveling together in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people.


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They will kill him, but on the third day he will be brought back to life." Then the disciples became very sad.


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When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"


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"Certainly," he answered. Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?"


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However, so that we don't create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me."


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Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


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"These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.


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How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!


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"If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.


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If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.


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"Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.


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"What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won't he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed?


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I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed.


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"If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.


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But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses.


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If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector.


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I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.


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"I can guarantee again that if two of you agree on anything here on earth, my Father in heaven will accept it.


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Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, "Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?"


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Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account.


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Then the servant fell at his master's feet and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!'


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But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. 'Pay what you owe!' he said.


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"Then that other servant fell at his feet and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.'


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But he refused. Instead, he turned away and had that servant put into prison until he would repay what he owed.


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"The other servants who worked with him saw what had happened and felt very sad. They told their master the whole story.


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"Then his master sent for him and said to him, 'You evil servant! I canceled your entire debt, because you begged me.


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"His master was so angry that he handed him over to the torturers until he would repay everything that he owed.


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That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers."


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When Jesus finished speaking, he left Galilee and traveled along the other side of the Jordan River to the territory of Judea.


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and that he said, 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one'?


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So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don't let anyone separate what God has joined together."


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The Pharisees asked him, "Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?"


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Jesus answered them, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you're heartless. It was never this way in the beginning.


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I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman."


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The disciples said to him, "If that is the only reason a man can use to divorce his wife, it's better not to get married."


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For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you've suggested, then he should do it."


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Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.


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Jesus said, "Don't stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God."


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Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments."


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"Which commandments?" the man asked. Jesus said, "Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony.


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Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"


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Jesus said to his disciples, "I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.


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I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."


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Jesus looked at them and said, "It is impossible for people {to save themselves}, but everything is possible for God."


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Then Peter replied to him, "Look, we've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?"


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Jesus said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.


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"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.


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About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?'


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"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, 'Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.'


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When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day's wages.


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They said, 'These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you've treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.'


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"The owner said to one of them, 'Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me on a day's wages?


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When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve apostles aside and said to them privately,


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"We're going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death


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and hand him over to foreigners. They will make fun of him, whip him, and crucify him. But on the third day he will be brought back to life."


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Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor.


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"What do you want?" he asked her. She said to him, "Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."


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Jesus replied, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink the cup that I'm going to drink?" "We can," they told him.


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Jesus said to them, "You will drink my cup. But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people."


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Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people.


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But that's not the way it's going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant.


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It's the same way with the Son of Man. He didn't come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."


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Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"


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The crowd told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"


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Jesus felt sorry for them, so he touched their eyes. Their sight was restored at once, and they followed him.


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When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead of him.


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He said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you. You will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me.


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If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them. That person will send them at once."


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"Tell the people of Zion, 'Your king is coming to you. He's gentle, riding on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.' "


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Most of the people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.


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The crowd that went ahead of him and that followed him was shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"


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Jesus went into the temple courtyard and threw out everyone who was buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers' tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons.


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He told them, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you're turning it into a gathering place for thieves!"


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When the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing miracles he performed and the children shouting in the temple courtyard, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were irritated.


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They said to him, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus replied, "Yes, I do. Have you never read, 'From the mouths of little children and infants, you have created praise'?"


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When he saw a fig tree by the road, he went up to the tree and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, "May fruit never grow on you again!" At once the fig tree dried up.


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Jesus answered them, "I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.


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Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, "What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?"


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Jesus answered them, "I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I'll tell you why I have the right to do these things.


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Did John's right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?" They discussed this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask us, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'


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But if we say, 'from humans,' we're afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet."


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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you why I have the right to do these things.


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"What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go to work in the vineyard today.'


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"The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, 'I will, sir,' but he didn't go.


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"Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.


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John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn't believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn't change your minds and believe him.


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"Listen to another illustration. A landowner planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.


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"When the grapes were getting ripe, he sent his servants to the workers to collect his share of the produce.


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"When the workers saw his son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him and get his inheritance.'


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They answered, "He will destroy those evil people. Then he will lease the vineyard to other workers who will give him his share of the produce when it is ready."


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Jesus asked them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord is responsible for this, and it is amazing for us to see'?


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That is why I can guarantee that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce what God wants.


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Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken. If the stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person."


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When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his illustrations, they knew that he was talking about them.


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He sent other servants to tell the people who had been invited, 'I've prepared dinner. My bulls and fattened calves have been butchered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!'


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"But they paid no attention and went away. Some went to work in their own fields, and others went to their businesses.


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"Then the king said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited don't deserve the honor.


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The servants went into the streets and brought in all the good people and all the evil people they found. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.


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"When the king came to see the guests, he saw a person who was not dressed in the wedding clothes {provided for the guests}.


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He said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without proper wedding clothes?' "The man had nothing to say.


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Then the king told his servants, 'Tie his hands and feet, and throw him outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.'


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They sent their disciples to him along with Herod's followers. They said to him, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and that you teach the truth about the way of God. You don't favor individuals because of who they are.


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They replied, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Very well, give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God."


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On that day some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him,


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"Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'


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There were seven brothers among us. The first married and died. Since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother.


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Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers had been married to her."


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Jesus answered him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'


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'The Lord said to my Lord, "Take the highest position in heaven until I put your enemies under your control." '


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So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don't follow their example, because they don't practice what they preach.


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They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.


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"They do everything to attract people's attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don't enter it yourselves, and you don't permit others to enter when they try.


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.


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"How horrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say, 'To swear an oath by the temple doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gold in the temple means a person must keep his oath.'


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Again you say, 'To swear an oath by the altar doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.'


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give {God} one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses' Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others.


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires.


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You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cups and dishes so that the outside may also be clean.


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people's bones and every kind of impurity.


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So on the outside you look as though you have God's approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.


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"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who had God's approval.


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Then you say, 'If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.'


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I'm sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.


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As a result, you will be held accountable for all the innocent blood of those murdered on earth, from the murder of righteous Abel to that of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.


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"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing!


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I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!' "


text:
As Jesus left the temple courtyard and was walking away, his disciples came to him. They proudly pointed out to him the temple buildings.


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Jesus said to them, "You see all these buildings, don't you? I can guarantee this truth: Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."


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As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?"


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"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don't be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don't mean that the end has come.


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Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.


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"Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me.


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"This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.


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"The prophet Daniel said that the disgusting thing that will cause destruction will stand in the holy place. When you see this (let the reader take note),


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There will be a lot of misery at that time, a kind of misery that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and will certainly never happen again.


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If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.


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False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen.


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So if someone tells you, 'He's in the desert!' don't go out {looking for him}. And don't believe anyone who says, 'He's in a secret place!'


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"Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.


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"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the people on earth will cry in agony when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory.


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He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.


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"Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.


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"No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows.


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In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship.


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They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.


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"At that time two men will be working in the field. One will be taken, and the other one will be left.


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You realize that if a homeowner had known at what time of the night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. He would not have let the thief break into his house.


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"Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? The master will put that person in charge of giving the other servants their food at the right time.


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On the other hand, that servant, if he is wicked, may think that it will be a long time before his master comes.


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Then his master will severely punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.


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"When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom.


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"But the wise bridesmaids replied, 'We can't do that. There won't be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.'


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"While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.


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"The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them.


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He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.


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But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.


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The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, 'Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I've doubled the amount.'


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"His master replied, 'Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.'


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"The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, 'Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I've doubled the amount.'


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"Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven't planted and gather where you haven't scattered any seeds.


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"His master responded, 'You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven't planted and gather where I haven't scattered,


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then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.


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To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don't have much.


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Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.'


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"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.


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The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.


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"Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.


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I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home.


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I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'


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"Then the people who have God's approval will reply to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink?


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When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear?


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"The king will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant {they seemed}, you did for me.'


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"Then the king will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels!


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I was a stranger, and you didn't take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn't give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't take care of me.'


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"They, too, will ask, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn't help you?'


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"He will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant {they seemed}, you failed to do for me.'


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"These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval will go into eternal life."


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"You know that the Passover will take place in two days. At that time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."


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Then the chief priests and the leaders of the people gathered in the palace of the chief priest Caiaphas.


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But they said, "We shouldn't arrest him during the festival, or else there may be a riot among the people."


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While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head.


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Since Jesus knew what was going on, he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.


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I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."


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On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went to Jesus. They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"


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He said, "Go to a certain man in the city, and tell him that the teacher says, 'My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "


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The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born."


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Then Judas, who betrayed him, asked, "You don't mean me, do you, Rabbi?" "Yes, I do," Jesus replied.


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While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take this, and eat it. This is my body."


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Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He gave it to them and said, "Drink from it, all of you.


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This is my blood, the blood of the promise. It is poured out for many people so that sins are forgiven.


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"I can guarantee that I won't drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom."


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Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will abandon me tonight. Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep in the flock will be scattered.'


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Jesus replied to Peter, "I can guarantee this truth: Before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me."


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Peter told him, "Even if I have to die with you, I'll never say that I don't know you!" All the other disciples said the same thing.


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Then Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, "Stay here while I go over there and pray."


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Then he said to them, "My anguish is so great that I feel as if I'm dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me."


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After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, "Father, if it's possible, let this cup {of suffering} be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine."


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When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake with me for one hour?


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Then he went away a second time and prayed, "Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done."


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Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, "You might as well sleep now. The time is near for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.


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Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests and leaders of the people.


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Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, "The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him!"


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Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.


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Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest's servant.


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Don't you think that I could call on my Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to help me now?


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At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? I used to sit teaching in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn't arrest me then.


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All of this has happened so that what the prophets have written would come true." Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.


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Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the chief priest, where the scribes and the leaders had gathered together.


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Peter followed at a distance until he came to the chief priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat with the guards to see how this would turn out.


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The chief priests and the whole council were searching for false testimony to use against Jesus in order to execute him.


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But they did not find any, although many came forward with false testimony. At last two men came forward.


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The chief priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men testify against you?"


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But Jesus was silent. Then the chief priest said to him, "Swear an oath in front of the living God and tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?"


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Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I can guarantee that from now on you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming on the clouds of heaven."


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Then the chief priest tore his robes in horror and said, "He has dishonored God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You've just heard him dishonor God!


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Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A female servant came to him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean."


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As he went to the entrance, another female servant saw him. She told those who were there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth."


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After a little while the men standing there approached Peter and said, "It's obvious you're also one of them. Your accent gives you away!"


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Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, "I don't know the man!" Just then a rooster crowed.


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Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.


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Then Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He brought the 30 silver coins back to the chief priests and leaders.


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He said, "I've sinned by betraying an innocent man." They replied, "What do we care? That's your problem."


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The chief priests took the money and said, "It's not right to put it into the temple treasury, because it's blood money."


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Then what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true, "They took the 30 silver coins, the price the people of Israel had placed on him,


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Jesus stood in front of the governor, {Pilate}. The governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, I am," Jesus answered.


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So when the people gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which man do you want me to free for you? Do you want me to free Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?"


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While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Leave that innocent man alone. I've been very upset today because of a dream I had about him."


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But the chief priests and leaders persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.


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Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?" "He should be crucified!" they all said.


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Pilate asked, "Why? What has he done wrong?" But they began to shout loudly, "He should be crucified!"


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Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, "I won't be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!"


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Then Pilate freed Barabbas for the people. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.


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They twisted some thorns into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. They knelt in front of him and made fun of him by saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!"


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After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.


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On the way they found a man named Simon. He was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross.


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They gave him a drink of wine mixed with a drug called gall. When he tasted it, he refused to drink it.


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and said, "You were going to tear down God's temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross."


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The chief priests together with the scribes and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said,


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"He saved others, but he can't save himself. So he's Israel's king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we'll believe him.


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He trusted God. Let God rescue him now if he wants. After all, this man said, 'I am the Son of God.' "


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About three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"


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One of the men ran at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink.


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Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open.


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They came out of the tombs after he had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.


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An army officer and those watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, "Certainly, this was the Son of God!"


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Many women were there watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and had always supported him.


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Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of Zebedee's sons.


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In the evening a rich man named Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and had become a disciple of Jesus.


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Then he laid it in his own new tomb, which had been cut in a rock. After rolling a large stone against the door of the tomb, he went away.


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The next day, which was the day of worship, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and went to Pilate.


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They said, "Sir, we remember how that deceiver said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will be brought back to life.'


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Therefore, give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may steal him and say to the people, 'He has been brought back to life.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first."


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Pilate told them, "You have the soldiers you want for guard duty. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how."


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So they went to secure the tomb. They placed a seal on the stone and posted the soldiers on guard duty.


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After the day of worship, as the sun rose Sunday morning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.


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Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it.


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Then go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has been brought back to life. He's going ahead of them into Galilee. There they will see him. Take note that I have told you."


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Suddenly, Jesus met them and greeted them. They went up to him, bowed down to worship him, and took hold of his feet.


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Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go, tell my followers to go to Galilee. There they will see me."


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While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened.


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The chief priests gathered together with the leaders and agreed on a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money


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and told them to say that Jesus' disciples had come at night and had stolen his body while they were sleeping.


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{They added,} "If the governor hears about it, we'll take care of it, and you'll have nothing to worry about."


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The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. Their story has been spread among the Jewish people to this day.


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When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.


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So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.


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Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."


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John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.


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All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.


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John was dressed in clothes made from camel's hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.


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He announced, "The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps.


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As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove.


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where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.


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He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."


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As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.


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As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets {to go fishing}.


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He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.


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Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of worship, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.


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"What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"


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Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, "What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him."


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After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them.


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Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her.


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Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them.


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In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons.


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He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was.


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Jesus said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread {the Good News} in them also. This is why I have come."


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So he went to spread {the Good News} in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people.


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Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, "If you're willing, you can make me clean."


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"Don't tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."


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When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.


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Many people had gathered. There was no room left, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking {God's} word to them.


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Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying.


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At once, Jesus knew inwardly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why do you have these thoughts?


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Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, and walk'?


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I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man,


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The man got up, immediately picked up his cot, and walked away while everyone watched. Everyone was amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."


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When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him.


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Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples.


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When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"


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When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."


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John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples don't?"


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Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests fast while the groom is still with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.


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"No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. Otherwise, the new patch will shrink and rip away some of the old cloth, and the tear will become worse.


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People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins."


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Once on a day of worship Jesus was going through the grainfields. As the disciples walked along, they began to pick the heads of grain.


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The Pharisees asked him, "Look! Why are your disciples doing something that is not permitted on the day of worship?"


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Jesus asked them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and his men were in need and were hungry?


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Haven't you ever read how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was chief priest and ate the bread of the presence? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right. Haven't you ever read how he also gave some of it to his men?"


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The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.


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Then he asked them, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?" But they were silent.


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Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.


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Jerusalem, Idumea, and from across the Jordan River, and from around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they had heard about everything he was doing.


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Whenever people with evil spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and shout, "You are the Son of God!"


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He appointed twelve whom he called apostles. They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread {the Good News}.


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The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "Beelzebul is in him," and "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons."


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"No one can go into a strong man's house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man's house and steal his property.


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Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out.


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The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."


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Then looking at those who sat in a circle around him, he said, "Look, here are my mother and my brothers.


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Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it. The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore.


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Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep.


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Other seeds were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up and choked them, and they didn't produce anything.


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But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted."


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Jesus replied to them, "The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given {directly} to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:


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'They see clearly but don't perceive. They hear clearly but don't understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.' "


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Jesus asked them, "Don't you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations?


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Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. Whenever they hear the word, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was planted in them.


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Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.


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But they don't develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall {from faith}.


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but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can't produce anything.


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Others are like seeds planted on good ground. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops—thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted."


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Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a lamp stand?


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There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.


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He went on to say, "Pay attention to what you're listening to! {Knowledge} will be measured out to you by the measure {of attention} you give. This is the way knowledge increases.


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Those who understand {these mysteries} will be given {more knowledge}. However, some people don't understand {these mysteries}. Even what they understand will be taken away from them."


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He sleeps at night and is awake during the day. The seeds sprout and grow, although the man doesn't know how.


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The ground produces grain by itself. First the green blade appears, then the head, then the head full of grain.


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It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth.


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However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade."


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Jesus spoke {God's} word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught.


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He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.


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A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up.


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But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. So they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die?"


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Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, "Be still, absolutely still!" The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.


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They were overcome with fear and asked each other, "Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"


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As Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man came out of the tombs and met him. The man was controlled by an evil spirit


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He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him.


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Night and day he was among the tombs and on the mountainsides screaming and cutting himself with stones.


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and shouted, "Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me."


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Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He told Jesus, "My name is Legion Six Thousand, because there are many of us."


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Jesus let them do this. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned.


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Those who took care of the pigs ran away. In the city and countryside they reported everything that had happened. So the people came to see what had happened.


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They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.


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As Jesus stepped into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him, "Let me stay with you."


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But Jesus would not allow it. Instead, he told the man, "Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you."


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So the man left. He began to tell how much Jesus had done for him in the Ten Cities. Everyone was amazed.


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Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore.


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A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him.


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He begged Jesus, "My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live."


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Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse.


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At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"


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His disciples said to him, "How can you ask, 'Who touched me,' when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?"


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The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth.


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While Jesus was still speaking to her, some people came from the synagogue leader's home. They told the synagogue leader, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher anymore?"


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When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly.


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When he came into the house, he asked them, "Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn't dead. She's just sleeping."


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They laughed at him. So he made all of them go outside. Then he took the child's father, mother, and his three disciples and went to the child.


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Jesus took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which means, "Little girl, I'm telling you to get up!"


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Jesus ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give the little girl something to eat.


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When the day of worship came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, "Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles?


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Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" So they took offense at him.


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But Jesus told them, "The only place a prophet isn't honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house."


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He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick. They were not to take any food, a traveling bag, or money in their pockets.


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Wherever people don't welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them."


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So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act.


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King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus' name had become well-known. Some people were saying, "John the Baptizer has come back to life. That's why he has the power to perform these miracles."


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Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip's wife.)


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because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.


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An opportunity finally came on Herod's birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee.


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His daughter, that is, Herodias' daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you."


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So she went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."


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So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once."


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The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn't want to refuse her.


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Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John's head. The guard cut off John's head in prison.


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So he said to them, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while." Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn't even have a chance to eat.


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But many people saw them leave and recognized them. The people ran from all the cities and arrived ahead of them.


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When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd and felt sorry for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he spent a lot of time teaching them.


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When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late.


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Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year's wages on bread to feed them?"


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He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish."


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After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone.


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Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away.


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Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them.


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All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!"


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(They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)


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They ran all over the countryside and began to carry the sick on cots to any place where they heard he was.


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Whenever he would go into villages, cities, or farms, people would put their sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.


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(The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don't eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors.


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When they come from the marketplace, they don't eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.)


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The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don't wash their hands before they eat!"


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Jesus told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.


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He added, "You have no trouble rejecting the commandments of God in order to keep your own traditions!


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For example, Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.'


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But you say, 'If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is corban (that is, an offering to God),


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Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word. And you do many other things like that."


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Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.


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Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand? Don't you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can't make him unclean?


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It doesn't go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet." (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.)


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adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person.


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Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre. He didn't want anyone to know that he was staying in a house there. However, it couldn't be kept a secret.


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The woman happened to be Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She asked him to force the demon out of her daughter.


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Jesus said to her, "First, let the children eat all they want. It's not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."


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Jesus then left the neighborhood of Tyre. He went through Sidon and the territory of the Ten Cities to the Sea of Galilee.


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Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and who also had a speech defect. They begged Jesus to lay his hand on him.


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Jesus took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. He put his fingers into the man's ears, and after spitting, he touched the man's tongue.


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Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them, the more they spread the news.


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Jesus completely amazed the people. They said, "He has done everything well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute talk."


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About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them,


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If I send them home before they've eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance."


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His disciples asked him, "Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?"


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He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people.


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They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people.


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The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.


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The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven.


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With a deep sigh he asked, "Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!"


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Then he left them there. He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.


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Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you don't have any bread? Don't you understand yet? Don't you catch on? Are your minds closed?


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When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve."


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"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They answered him, "Seven."


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As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him.


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Jesus took the blind man's hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man's eyes and placed his hands on him. Jesus asked him, "Can you see anything?"


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Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes a second time, and the man saw clearly. His sight was normal again. He could see everything clearly even at a distance.


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Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say I am?"


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They answered him, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."


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Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life.


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Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, "Get out of my way, Satan! You aren't thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think."


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Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, "Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.


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Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them.


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If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father's glory."


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He said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power."


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After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. Jesus' appearance changed in front of them.


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Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it's good that we're here. Let's put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"


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On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life.


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Jesus said to them, "Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully?


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Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him."


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When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them.


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A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won't let him talk.


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Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn't have the power to do it."


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Jesus said to them, "You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!"


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They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.


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Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" The father replied, "He has been this way since he was a child.


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The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it's possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!"


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Jesus said to him, "As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes."


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When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, "You spirit that won't let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again."


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The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, "He's dead!"


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When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we force the spirit out of the boy?"


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They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was


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because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life."


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Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, "What were you arguing about on the road?"


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He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, "Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else."


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Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them,


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"Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."


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John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us."


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Jesus said, "Don't stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me.


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I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward."


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"These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.


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"So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.


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If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.


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If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.


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Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another."


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Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.


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Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.


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When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, "Don't stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the kingdom of God.


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I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it."


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As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"


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You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother."


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Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, "You're still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"


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Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!"


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The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!


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It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."


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Jesus looked at them and said, "It's impossible for people {to save themselves}, but it's not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God."


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Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News


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will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life.


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Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked {that he was going to Jerusalem}. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him.


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"We're going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners.


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They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life."


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James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do us a favor."


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Jesus said, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink the cup that I'm going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive?"


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"We can," they told him. Jesus told them, "You will drink the cup that I'm going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive.


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But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people."


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Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people.


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Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.


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When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth {was passing by}, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"


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Jesus stopped and said, "Call him!" They called the blind man and told him, "Cheer up! Get up! He's calling you."


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Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again."


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Jesus told him, "Go, your faith has made you well." At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.


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When they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.


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He said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it.


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If anyone asks you what you are doing, say that the Lord needs it. That person will send it here at once."


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The disciples found the young donkey in the street. It was tied to the door of a house. As they were untying it,


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Many spread their coats on the road. Others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them on the road.


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Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!


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Jesus came into Jerusalem and went into the temple courtyard, where he looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out with the twelve apostles to Bethany.


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In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn't the season for figs.


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When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers' tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons.


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Then he taught them by saying, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves."


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When the chief priests and scribes heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching.


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While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up.


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Peter remembered {what Jesus had said}, so he said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up."


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I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn't doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done for him.


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That's why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.


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Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures."


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Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple courtyard, the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders came to him.


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Jesus said to them, "I'll ask you a question. Answer me, and then I'll tell you why I have the right to do these things.


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They discussed this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'


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But if we say, 'from humans,' {then what will happen}?" They were afraid of the people. All the people thought of John as a true prophet.


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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you why I have the right to do these things."


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Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to them. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a vat for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.


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"At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to collect from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard.


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So the man sent another servant to them. They hit the servant on the head and treated him shamefully.


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The man sent another, and they killed that servant. Then he sent many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.


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"He had one more person to send. That person was his son, whom he loved. Finally, he sent his son to them. He thought, 'They will respect my son.'


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"But those workers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'


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"What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the workers and give the vineyard to others.


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Have you never read the Scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.


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They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them. So they left him alone and went away.


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The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod's followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing.


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When they came to him, they said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don't favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?"


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Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it."


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They brought a coin. He said to them, "Whose face and name is this?" They told him, "The emperor's."


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Jesus said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God." They were surprised at his reply.


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"Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'


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Haven't you read in the book of Moses that the dead come back to life? It's in the passage about the bush, where God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'


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One of the scribes went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?"


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So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'


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The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."


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The scribe said to Jesus, "Teacher, that was well said! You've told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him!


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To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."


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When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, "You're not too far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him another question.


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While Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?


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David, guided by the Holy Spirit, said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Take the highest position in heaven until I put your enemies under your control." '


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As he taught, he said, "Watch out for the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces,


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They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment."


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As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how {much} money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts.


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He called his disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.


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All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."


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As Jesus was going out of the temple courtyard, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these huge stones and these beautiful buildings!"


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Jesus said to him, "Do you see these large buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."


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As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the temple buildings, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,


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"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don't mean that the end has come.


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Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains {of the end}.


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"Be on your guard! People will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings to testify to them because of me.


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When they take you away to hand you over to the authorities, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you to say when the time comes. Indeed, you are not the one who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.


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Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.


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"When you see the disgusting thing that will cause destruction standing where it should not (let the reader take note), those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains.


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It will be a time of misery that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and will certainly never happen again.


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If the Lord does not reduce that time, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.


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False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.


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He will send out his angels, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.


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"Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know summer is near.


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It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.


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Therefore, be alert, because you don't know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning.


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It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Jesus and to kill him.


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However, they said, "We shouldn't arrest him during the festival, or else there will be a riot among the people."


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Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.


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This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor." So they said some very unkind things to her.


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You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you.


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I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."


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They were pleased to hear what Judas had to say and promised to give him money. So he kept looking for a chance to betray Jesus.


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Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Jesus, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"


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He sent two of his disciples and told them, "Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him.


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When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, 'Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'


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He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there."


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The disciples left. They went into the city and found everything as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.


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While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!"


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The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born."


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While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, "Take this. This is my body."


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Then he took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave the cup to them. They all drank from it.


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"I can guarantee this truth: I won't drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine in the kingdom of God."


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Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will abandon me. Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'


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Jesus said to Peter, "I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me."


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But Peter said very strongly, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don't know you." All the other disciples said the same thing.


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After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him.


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He said, "Abba! Father! You can do anything. Take this cup {of suffering} away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine."


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He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?


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He found them asleep because they couldn't keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.


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He came back a third time and said to them, "You might as well sleep now. It's all over. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.


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Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people.


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Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, "The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away."


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I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn't arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true."


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A certain young man was following Jesus. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him,


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The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, leaders, and scribes had gathered together.


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Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.


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The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn't find any.


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"We heard him say, 'I'll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I'll build another temple, one not made by human hands.' "


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So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men testify against you?"


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But he was silent. The chief priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"


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Jesus answered, "Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven."


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You've heard him dishonor God! What's your verdict?" All of them condemned him with the death sentence.


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Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, "Prophesy!" Even the guards took him and slapped him.


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But Peter denied it by saying, "I don't know him, and I don't understand what you're talking about." He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.


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The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!"


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Peter again denied it. After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, "It's obvious you're one of them. You're a Galilean!"


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Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter began to cry very hard.


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Early in the morning the chief priests immediately came to a decision with the leaders and the scribes. The whole Jewish council decided to tie Jesus up, lead him away, and hand him over to Pilate.


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So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!"


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There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot.


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Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.


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They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, and kneeling in front of him with false humility.


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After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.


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A man named Simon from the city of Cyrene was coming {into Jerusalem} from his home in the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. As he was about to pass by, the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross.


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Next they crucified him. Then they divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get.


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Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads and said, "What a joke! You were going to tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.


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The chief priests and the scribes made fun of him among themselves in the same way. They said, "He saved others, but he can't save himself.


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Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now so that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with him were insulting him.


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At three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"


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When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, "Listen! He's calling Elijah."


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Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. The man said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down."


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When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, "Certainly, this man was the Son of God!"


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Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of young James and Joseph), and Salome.


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They had followed him and supported him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him were there too.


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when Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and was an important member of the Jewish council. He, too, was waiting for the kingdom of God. Joseph boldly went to Pilate's quarters to ask for the body of Jesus.


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Pilate wondered if Jesus had already died. So he summoned the officer to ask him if Jesus was, in fact, dead.


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Joseph had purchased some linen cloth. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in the cloth. Then he laid the body in a tomb, which had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.


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When the day of worship was over, Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus.


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As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man. He was dressed in a white robe and sat on the right side. They were panic-stricken.


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The young man said to them, "Don't panic! You're looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He's not here. Look at the place where they laid him.


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Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he's going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them."


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They went out of the tomb and ran away. Shock and trembling had overwhelmed them. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.


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After Jesus came back to life early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary from Magdala, from whom he had forced out seven demons.


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Later Jesus appeared to two disciples as they were walking to their home in the country. He did not look as he usually did.


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Still later Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles while they were eating. He put them to shame for their unbelief and because they were too stubborn to believe those who had seen him alive.


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"These are the miraculous signs that will accompany believers: They will use the power and authority of my name to force demons out of people. They will speak new languages.


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They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. They will place their hands on the sick and cure them."


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After talking with the apostles, the Lord was taken to heaven, where God gave him the highest position.


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The disciples spread {the Good News} everywhere. The Lord worked with them. He confirmed his word by the miraculous signs that accompanied it.


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They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God's word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us.


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I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus.


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When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah's wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.


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Zechariah and Elizabeth had God's approval. They followed all the Lord's commands and regulations perfectly.


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Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn't become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.


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The angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.


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As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.


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He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents' attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God's approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord."


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Zechariah said to the angel, "What proof is there for this? I'm an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years."


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The angel answered him, "I'm Gabriel! I stand in God's presence. God sent me to tell you this good news.


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But because you didn't believe what I said, you will be unable to talk until the day this happens. Everything will come true at the right time."


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Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were amazed that he was staying in the temple so long.


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When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk.


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Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.


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The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary.


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When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, "You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you."


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He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.


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The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.


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"Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn't have a child.


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Mary answered, "I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you've said happen to me." Then the angel left her.


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When Elizabeth heard the greeting, she felt the baby kick. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


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She said in a loud voice, "You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have.


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because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant. "From now on, all people will call me blessed


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When the child was eight days old, they went {to the temple} to circumcise him. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father.


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All their neighbors were filled with awe. Throughout the mountain region of Judea, people talked about everything that had happened.


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Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, "What does the future hold for this child?" It was clear that the Lord was with him.


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"You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.


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He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death's shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace."


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The child John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the day he appeared to the people of Israel.


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So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there.


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She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn't any room for them in the inn.


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Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night.


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An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified.


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The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.


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This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."


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The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about."


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As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.


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Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.


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After the days required by Moses' Teachings to make a mother clean had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Jesus to present him to the Lord.


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They did exactly what was written in the Lord's Teachings: "Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord."


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They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord's Teachings: "a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons."


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A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon


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Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses' Teachings required.


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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose


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Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married,


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and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying.


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At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.


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After doing everything the Lord's Teachings required, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.


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When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't know it.


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They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.


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Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.


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When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!"


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Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you realize that I had to be in my Father's house?"


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Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.


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It was the fifteenth year in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod ruled Galilee, and his brother Philip ruled Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene.


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It was at the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests that God spoke to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert.


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John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.


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As the prophet Isaiah wrote in his book, "A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!


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Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked ways will be made straight. The rough roads will be made smooth.


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Crowds of people were coming to be baptized by John. He would say to them, "You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God's coming anger?


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Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don't say, 'Abraham is our ancestor.' I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.


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The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire."


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He answered them, "Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who doesn't have any. Whoever has food should share it too."


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Some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Be satisfied with your pay, and never use threats or blackmail to get money from anyone."


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John replied to all of them, "I baptize you with water. But the one who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


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His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out."


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John spoke out against the ruler Herod because Herod had married his own sister-in-law, Herodias. He also spoke out against Herod for all the evil things he had done.


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and the Holy Spirit came down to him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you."


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Jesus was about 30 years old when he began {his ministry}. Jesus, so people thought, was the son of Joseph, son of Eli,


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Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit as he left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him while he was in the desert,


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where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. During those days Jesus ate nothing, so when they were over, he was hungry.


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The devil said to him, "I will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms. All of it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please.


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Then the devil took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump from here!


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After the devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, the devil left him until another time.


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Jesus returned to Galilee. The power of the Spirit was with him, and the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country.


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Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual he went into the synagogue on the day of worship. He stood up to read the lesson.


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The attendant gave him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it read:


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"The Spirit of the Lord is with me. He has anointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin and the restoring of sight to the blind, to forgive those who have been shattered by sin,


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Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue watched him closely.


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All the people spoke well of him. They were amazed to hear the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"


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So he said to them, "You'll probably quote this proverb to me, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' and then say to me, 'Do all the things in your hometown that we've heard you've done in Capernaum.' "


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"I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.


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There were also many people with skin diseases in Israel in the prophet Elisha's time. But God cured no one except Naaman from Syria."


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Their city was built on a hill with a cliff. So they got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the cliff. They intended to throw him off of it.


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"Oh, no! What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"


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Jesus ordered the spirit, "Keep quiet, and come out of him!" The demon threw the man down in the middle of the synagogue and came out without hurting him.


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Everyone was stunned. They said to one another, "What kind of command is this? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits, and they come out."


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Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. They asked Jesus to help her.


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He bent over her, ordered the fever to leave, and it went away. She got up immediately and prepared a meal for them.


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When the sun was setting, everyone who had friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and cured them.


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Demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus ordered them not to speak. After all, they knew he was the Messiah.


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In the morning he went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds searched for him. When they came to him, they tried to keep him from leaving.


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But he said to them, "I have to tell the Good News about the kingdom of God in other cities also. That's what I was sent to do."


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One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee. The people crowded around him as they listened to God's word.


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Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets.


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So Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowd from the boat.


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When he finished speaking, he told Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and lower your nets to catch some fish."


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Simon answered, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."


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So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. Their partners came and filled both boats until the boats nearly sank.


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When Simon Peter saw this, he knelt in front of Jesus and said, "Leave me, Lord! I'm a sinful person!"


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James and John, who were Zebedee's sons and Simon's partners, were also amazed. Jesus told Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will catch people instead of fish."


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One day Jesus was in a city where there was a man covered with a serious skin disease. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground. He begged Jesus, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean."


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Jesus reached out, touched him, and said, "I want to. So be clean!" Immediately, his skin disease went away.


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Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone. Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice as Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."


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The news about Jesus spread even more. Large crowds gathered to hear him and have their diseases cured.


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One day when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and experts in Moses' Teachings were present. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. Jesus had the power of the Lord to heal.


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Some men brought a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They tried to take him into the house and put him in front of Jesus.


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But they could not find a way to get him into the house because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. They made an opening in the tiles and let the man down on his stretcher among the people. (They lowered him in front of Jesus.)


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The scribes and the Pharisees thought, "Who is this man? He's dishonoring God! Who besides God can forgive sins?"


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The man immediately stood up in front of them and picked up the stretcher he had been lying on. Praising God, he went home.


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Everyone was amazed and praised God. They were filled with awe and said, "We've seen things today we can hardly believe!"


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After that, Jesus left. He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"


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Levi held a large reception at his home for Jesus. A huge crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.


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The Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus' disciples. They asked, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"


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I've come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God's approval."


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They said to him, "John's disciples frequently fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. But your disciples eat and drink."


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He also used these illustrations: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new coat to patch an old coat. Otherwise, the new cloth will tear the old. Besides, the patch from the new will not match the old.


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People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the new wine will make the skins burst. The wine will run out, and the skins will be ruined.


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Once, on a day of worship, Jesus was walking through some grainfields. His disciples were picking the heads of grain, removing the husks, and eating the grain.


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Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are your disciples doing something that is not right to do on the day of worship?"


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Haven't you read how he went into the house of God, ate the bread of the presence, and gave some of it to the men who were with him? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right."


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On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there.


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The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong.


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But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up, and stand in the center {of the synagogue}!" The man got up and stood there.


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Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you—what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?"


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He looked around at all of them and then said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man did so, and his hand became normal again.


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The scribes and Pharisees were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.


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They were Simon (whom Jesus named Peter) and Simon's brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,


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Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples and many other people were there. They had come from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.


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They wanted to hear him and be cured of their diseases. Those who were tormented by evil spirits were cured.


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Jesus looked at his disciples and said, "Blessed are those who are poor. The kingdom of God is theirs.


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Blessed are those who are hungry. They will be satisfied. Blessed are those who are crying. They will laugh.


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Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because you are committed to the Son of Man.


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Rejoice then, and be very happy! You have a great reward in heaven. That's the way their ancestors treated the prophets.


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How horrible it will be for those who are well-fed. They will be hungry. How horrible it will be for those who are laughing. They will mourn and cry.


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How horrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you. That's the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.


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If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt.


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Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don't insist on getting it back.


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"If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them.


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If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend.


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Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people.


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"Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.


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Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you."


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Jesus also gave them this illustration: "Can one blind person lead another? Won't both fall into the same pit?


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"Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?


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How can you say to another believer, 'Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you don't see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye.


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Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them.


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He is like a person who dug down to bedrock to lay the foundation of his home. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house. But the house couldn't be washed away because it had a good foundation.


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The person who hears {what I say} but doesn't obey it is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The floodwaters pushed against it, and that house quickly collapsed and was destroyed."


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The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant's life.


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Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, "Sir, don't bother. I don't deserve to have you come into my house.


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Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, "I can guarantee that I haven't found faith as great as this in Israel."


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As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow's only child. A large crowd from the city was with her.


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He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I'm telling you to come back to life!"


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Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has taken care of his people."


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The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?' "


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At that time Jesus was curing many people who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. Also, he was giving back sight to many who were blind.


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Jesus answered John's disciples, "Go back, and tell John what you have seen and heard: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.


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When John's messengers had left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. "What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?


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Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces.


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John is the one about whom Scripture says, 'I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.'


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I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.


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"All the people, including tax collectors, heard John. They admitted that God was right by letting John baptize them.


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But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses' Teachings rejected God's plan for them. They refused to be baptized.


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They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, 'We played music for you, but you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn't cry.'


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John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'There's a demon in him!'


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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'


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One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and was eating at the table.


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A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she took a bottle of perfume


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and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them.


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The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She's a sinner."


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Jesus spoke up, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon replied, "Teacher, you're free to speak."


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{So Jesus said,} "Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty.


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When they couldn't pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?"


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Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You're right!"


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Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "You see this woman, don't you? I came into your house. You didn't wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.


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That's why I'm telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little."


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After this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another. He spread the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him.


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Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;


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Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod's administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Jesus and his disciples.


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When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration:


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"A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds.


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Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture.


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Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted." After he had said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears listen!"


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Jesus answered, "Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given {directly} to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don't see, and when they hear, they don't understand.


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Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don't believe and become saved.


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Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don't develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it.


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The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don't produce anything good.


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The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring.


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"No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light.


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"So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand {these mysteries} will be given {more knowledge}. However, some people don't understand {these mysteries}. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them."


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One day Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. He said to them, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they started out.


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As they were sailing along, Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm came across the lake. The boat was taking on water, and they were in danger.


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They went to him, woke him up, and said, "Master! Master! We're going to die!" Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop. The wind stopped, and the sea became calm.


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He asked them, "Where is your faith?" Frightened and amazed, they asked each other, "Who is this man? He gives orders to the wind and the water, and they obey him!"


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When Jesus stepped out on the shore, a certain man from the city met him. The man was possessed by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He would not stay in a house but lived in the tombs.


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When he saw Jesus, he shouted, fell in front of him, and said in a loud voice, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!"


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Jesus ordered the evil spirit to come out of the man. (The evil spirit had controlled the man for a long time. People had kept him under guard. He was chained hand and foot. But he would break the chains. Then the demon would force him to go into the desert.)


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Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Legion Six Thousand." (Many demons had entered him.)


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A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside. The demons begged Jesus to let them enter those pigs. So he let them do this.


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The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.


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When those who had taken care of the pigs saw what had happened, they ran away. They reported everything in the city and countryside.


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The people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out. Dressed and in his right mind, he was sitting at Jesus' feet. The people were frightened.


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Then all the people from the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave because they were terrified. Jesus got into a boat and started back.


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The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him, "Let me go with you." But Jesus sent the man away and told him,


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"Go home to your family, and tell them how much God has done for you." So the man left. He went through the whole city and told people how much Jesus had done for him.


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A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, arrived and quickly bowed down in front of Jesus. He begged Jesus to come to his home.


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His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went, the people were crowding around him.


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A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her.


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Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" After everyone denied touching him, Peter said, "Teacher, the people are crowding you and pressing against you."


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The woman saw that she couldn't hide. Trembling, she quickly bowed in front of him. There, in front of all the people, she told why she touched him and how she was cured at once.


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While Jesus was still speaking to her, someone came from the synagogue leader's home. He said, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the teacher anymore."


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When Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid! Just believe, and she will get well."


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Jesus went into the house. He allowed no one to go with him except Peter, John, James, and the child's parents.


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Everyone was crying and showing how sad they were. Jesus said, "Don't cry! She's not dead. She's just sleeping."


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Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases.


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He told them, "Don't take anything along on the trip. Don't take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes.


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If people don't welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them."


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Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn't know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life.


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Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.


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Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. Who is this person I'm hearing so much about?" So Herod wanted to see Jesus.


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The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone.


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But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who were sick.


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Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, "Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here."


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Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that's all we have."


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(There were about five thousand men.) Then he told his disciples, "Have them sit in groups of about fifty."


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Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd.


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Once when Jesus was praying privately and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"


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They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, and still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life."


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Jesus said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.


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He said to all of them, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me.


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Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them.


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If people are ashamed of me and what I say, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes in the glory that he shares with the Father and the holy angels.


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"I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God."


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About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray.


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They appeared in heavenly glory and were discussing Jesus' approaching death and what he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.


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Peter and the men with him were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him.


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As Moses and Elijah were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Teacher, it's good that we're here. Let's put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Peter didn't know what he was saying.


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While he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them. They were frightened as they went into the cloud.


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After the voice had spoken, they saw that Jesus was alone. The disciples said nothing, and for some time they told no one about what they had seen.


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Whenever a spirit takes control of him, he shrieks, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. After a struggle, the spirit goes away, leaving the child worn out.


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Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!"


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While he was coming {to Jesus}, the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave. He cured the boy and gave him back to his father.


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Everyone was amazed to see God's wonderful power. Everyone was amazed at all the things that Jesus was doing. So he said to his disciples,


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They didn't know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.


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Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest."


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John replied, "Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us."


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The time was coming closer for Jesus to be taken to heaven. So he was determined to go to Jerusalem.


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He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay.


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James and John, his disciples, saw this. They asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?"


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But Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God."


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After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.


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He told them, "The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.


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Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, 'May there be peace in this house.'


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If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that's not the case, your greeting will be rejected.


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Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.


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'We are wiping your city's dust from our feet in protest against you! But realize that the kingdom of God is near you!'


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"How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in your cities had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted. Long ago they would have worn sackcloth and sat in ashes.


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"The person who hears you hears me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."


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The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, "Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!"


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I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy's power. Nothing will hurt you.


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However, don't be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven."


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In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.


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"My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows who the Son is. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him."


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He turned to his disciples in private and said to them, "How blessed you are to see what you've seen.


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I can guarantee that many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear what you've seen and heard, but they didn't."


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Then an expert in Moses' Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"


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He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.' And 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' "


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Jesus replied, "A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead.


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"By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way.


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Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way.


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"But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man,


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went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.


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The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll pay you on my return trip.'


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The expert said, "The one who was kind enough to help him." Jesus told him, "Go and imitate his example!"


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As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.


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But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me."


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There's only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her."


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Once Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped praying, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples."


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Jesus told them, "When you pray, say this: Father, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come.


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Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread.


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Your friend might answer you from inside his house, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'


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I can guarantee that although he doesn't want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.


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"So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.


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Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened.


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Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"


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Jesus was forcing a demon out of a man. The demon had made the man unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man began to talk. The people were amazed.


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But some of them said, "He can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons."


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Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. A house divided against itself falls.


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Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? I say this because you say Beelzebul helps me force demons out of people.


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If I force demons out with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That's why they will be your judges.


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But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him. Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot.


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"When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find any. Then it says, 'I'll go back to the home I left.'


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Then the spirit goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before."


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While Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd shouted, "How blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you."


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As the people were gathering around him, Jesus said, "The people living today are evil. They look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah.


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Just as Jonah became a miraculous sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a miraculous sign to the people living today.


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The queen from the south will stand up at the time of judgment with the men who live today. She will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. But look, someone greater than Solomon is here!


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The men of Nineveh will stand up at the time of judgment with the people living today. Since the men of Nineveh turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message, they will condemn the people living today. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!


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"No one lights a lamp and hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see its light.


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"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body is full of darkness.


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If your whole body is full of light and not darkness, it will be as bright as a lamp shining on you."


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After Jesus spoke, a Pharisee invited him to have lunch at his house. So Jesus accepted the invitation.


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The Lord said to him, "You Pharisees clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside you are full of greed and evil.


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"How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give {God} one-tenth of your mint, spices, and every garden herb. But you have ignored justice and the love of God. You should have done these things without ignoring the others.


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"How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to sit in the front seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces.


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How horrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves. People walk on them without knowing what they are."


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One of the experts in Moses' Teachings said to him, "Teacher, when you talk this way, you insult us too."


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Jesus said, "How horrible it will be for you experts in Moses' Teachings! You burden people with loads that are hard to carry. But you won't lift a finger to carry any of these loads.


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"How horrible it will be for you! You build the monuments for the prophets. But it was your ancestors who murdered them.


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So you are witnesses and approve of what your ancestors did. They murdered the prophets for whom you build monuments.


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That's why the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles. They will murder some of those prophets and apostles and persecute others.'


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This includes the murders from Abel to Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the temple. Yes, I can guarantee this truth: The people living today will be held responsible for this.


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"How horrible it will be for you experts in Moses' Teachings! You have taken away the key that unlocks knowledge. You haven't gained entrance into {knowledge} yourselves, and you've kept out those who wanted to enter."


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When Jesus left, the scribes and the Pharisees held a terrible grudge against him. They questioned him about many things


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Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I'm talking about their hypocrisy.


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Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.


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"My friends, I can guarantee that you don't need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can't do anything more.


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I'll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I'm warning you to be afraid of him.


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Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don't be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.


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I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God's angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others.


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But God's angels will be told that I don't know those people who tell others that they don't know me.


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Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.


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"When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.


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Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us."


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He told the people, "Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions."


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He said, 'I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them.


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Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." '


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"But God said to him, 'You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you've accumulated?'


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Consider the crows. They don't plant or harvest. They don't even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.


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Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers.


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"Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can't get close enough to destroy your treasure.


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Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the table, and serve them.


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"Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house.


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The Lord asked, "Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time?


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On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk.


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His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.


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"The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't get ready to do it will receive a hard beating.


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But the servant who didn't know {what his master wanted} and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.


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"Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division.


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From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three.


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A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."


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Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, 'There's going to be a rainstorm,' and it happens.


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You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don't know how to judge the time in which you're living.


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For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison.


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At that time some people reported to Jesus about some Galileans whom Pilate had executed while they were sacrificing animals.


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Jesus replied to them, "Do you think that this happened to them because they were more sinful than other people from Galilee?


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No! I can guarantee that they weren't. But if you don't turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.


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What about those 18 people who died when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more sinful than other people living in Jerusalem?


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No! I can guarantee that they weren't. But if you don't turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die."


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Then Jesus used this illustration: "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn't find any.


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He said to the gardener, 'For the last three years I've come to look for figs on this fig tree but haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up {good} soil?'


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A woman who was possessed by a spirit was there. The spirit had disabled her for 18 years. She was hunched over and couldn't stand up straight.


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When Jesus saw her, he called her to come to him and said, "Woman, you are free from your disability."


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The synagogue leader was irritated with Jesus for healing on the day of worship. The leader told the crowd, "There are six days when work can be done. So come on one of those days to be healed. Don't come on the day of worship."


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The Lord said, "You hypocrites! Don't each of you free your ox or donkey on the day of worship? Don't you then take it out of its stall to give it some water to drink?


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Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn't it right to free her on the day of worship?"


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As he said this, everyone who opposed him felt ashamed. But the entire crowd was happy about the miraculous things he was doing.


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It's like a mustard seed that someone planted in a garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds nested in its branches."


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It's like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough."


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"Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won't succeed.


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After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, {it's too late}. You can stand outside, knock at the door, and say, 'Sir, open the door for us!' But he will answer you, 'I don't know who you are.'


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Then you will cry and be in extreme pain. That's what you'll do when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets. They'll be in the kingdom of God, but you'll be thrown out.


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At that time some Pharisees told Jesus, "Get out of here, and go somewhere else! Herod wants to kill you."


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Jesus said to them, "Tell that fox that I will force demons out of people and heal people today and tomorrow. I will finish my work on the third day.


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But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day. It's not possible for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.


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Your house will be abandoned. I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!' "


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On a day of worship Jesus went to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee. The guests were watching Jesus very closely.


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Jesus reacted by asking the Pharisees and the experts in Moses' Teachings, "Is it right to heal on the day of worship or not?"


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Jesus asked them, "If your son or your ox falls into a well on a day of worship, wouldn't you pull him out immediately?"


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Then Jesus noticed how the guests always chose the places of honor. So he used this illustration when he spoke to them:


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"When someone invites you to a wedding, don't take the place of honor. Maybe someone more important than you was invited.


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Then your host would say to you, 'Give this person your place.' Embarrassed, you would have to take the place of least honor.


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So when you're invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, 'Friend, move to a more honorable place.' Then all the other guests will see how you are honored.


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Then he told the man who had invited him, "When you invite people for lunch or dinner, don't invite only your friends, family, other relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they will return the favor.


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Then you will be blessed because they don't have any way to pay you back. You will be paid back when those who have God's approval come back to life."


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One of those eating with him heard this. So he said to Jesus, "The person who will be at the banquet in the kingdom of God is blessed."


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When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, 'Come! Everything is ready now.'


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"Everyone asked to be excused. The first said to him, 'I bought a field, and I need to see it. Please excuse me.'


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Another said, 'I bought five pairs of oxen, and I'm on my way to see how well they plow. Please excuse me.'


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"The servant went back to report this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry. He told his servant, 'Run to every street and alley in the city! Bring back the poor, the handicapped, the blind, and the lame.'


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"The servant said, 'Sir, what you've ordered has been done. But there is still room for more people.'


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"Then the master told his servant, 'Go to the roads and paths! Urge the people to come to my house. I want it to be full.


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"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples.


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"Suppose you want to build a tower. You would first sit down and figure out what it costs. Then you would see if you have enough money to finish it.


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Otherwise, if you lay a foundation and can't finish the building, everyone who watches will make fun of you.


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"Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He would first sit down and think things through. Can he and his 10,000 soldiers fight against a king with 20,000 soldiers?


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If he can't, he'll send ambassadors to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away.


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It's not any good for the ground or for the manure pile. People throw it away. "Let the person who has ears listen!"


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"Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it?


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goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep!'


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I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval."


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"Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it?


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When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Let's celebrate! I've found the coin that I lost.'


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So I can guarantee that God's angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts."


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The younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons.


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"After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle.


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No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating.


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"Finally, he came to his senses. He said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, while I'm starving to death here?


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"So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him.


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Then his son said to him, 'Father, I've sinned against heaven and you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.'


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"The father said to his servants, 'Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.


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My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.' Then they began to celebrate.


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"The servant told him, 'Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother's safe return.'


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"Then the older son became angry and wouldn't go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in.


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But he answered his father, 'All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you've never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends.


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But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him.'


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But we have something to celebrate, something to be happy about. This brother of yours was dead but has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.' "


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Then Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a business manager. The manager was accused of wasting the rich man's property.


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So the rich man called for his manager and said to him, 'What's this I hear about you? Let me examine your books. It's obvious that you can't manage my property any longer.'


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"The manager thought, 'What should I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg.


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"So the manager called for each one of his master's debtors. He said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'


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"The debtor replied, 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.' "The manager told him, 'Take my master's ledger. Quick! Sit down, and write "four hundred!" '


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"Then he asked another debtor, 'How much do you owe?' "The debtor replied, 'A thousand bushels of wheat.' "The manager told him, 'Take the ledger, and write "eight hundred!" '


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"The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others."


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{Jesus continued,} "I'm telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home.


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Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot.


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Therefore, if you can't be trusted with wealth that is often used dishonestly, who will trust you with wealth that is real?


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"A servant cannot serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth."


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So Jesus said to them, "You try to justify your actions in front of people. But God knows what's in your hearts. What is important to humans is disgusting to God.


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"Moses' Teachings and the Prophets were {in force} until the time of John. Since that time, people have been telling the Good News about the kingdom of God, and everyone is trying to force their way into it.


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"Any man who divorces his wife to marry another woman is committing adultery. The man who marries a woman divorced in this way is committing adultery.


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There was also a beggar named Lazarus who was regularly brought to the gate of the rich man's house.


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Lazarus would have eaten any scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Lazarus was covered with sores, and dogs would lick them.


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"One day the beggar died, and the angels carried him to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.


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He went to hell, where he was constantly tortured. As he looked up, in the distance he saw Abraham and Lazarus.


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He yelled, 'Father Abraham! Have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue. I am suffering in this fire.'


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"Abraham replied, 'Remember, my child, that you had a life filled with good times, while Lazarus' life was filled with misery. Now he has peace here, while you suffer.


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Besides, a wide area separates us. People couldn't cross it in either direction even if they wanted to.'


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"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses' {Teachings} and the Prophets. Your brothers should listen to them!'


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"The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! If someone comes back to them from the dead, they will turn to God and change the way they think and act.'


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"Abraham answered him, 'If they won't listen to Moses' {Teachings} and the Prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone comes back to life.' "


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Jesus told his disciples, "Situations that cause people to lose their faith are certain to arise. But how horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!


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It would be best for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to lose his faith.


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So watch yourselves! "If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him.


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Even if he wrongs you seven times in one day and comes back to you seven times and says that he is sorry, forgive him."


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The Lord said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea!' and it would obey you.


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"Suppose someone has a servant who is plowing fields or watching sheep. Does he tell his servant when he comes from the field, 'Have something to eat'?


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No. Instead, he tells his servant, 'Get dinner ready for me! After you serve me my dinner, you can eat yours.'


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That's the way it is with you. When you've done everything you're ordered to do, say, 'We're worthless servants. We've only done our duty.' "


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When he saw them, he told them, "Show yourselves to the priests." As they went, they were made clean.


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The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, "People can't observe the coming of the kingdom of God.


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Jesus said to his disciples, "The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.


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People were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. Then the flood destroyed all of them.


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"The situation will also be like the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.


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"On that day those who are on the roof shouldn't come down to get their belongings out of their houses. Those who are in the field shouldn't turn back.


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"I can guarantee that on that night if two people are in one bed, one will be taken and the other one will be left.


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They asked him, "Where, Lord?" Jesus told them, "Vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body."


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Jesus used this illustration with his disciples to show them that they need to pray all the time and never give up.


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"For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, 'This widow really annoys me. Although I don't fear God or respect people,


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Won't God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them?


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I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"


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Jesus also used this illustration with some who were sure that God approved of them while they looked down on everyone else.


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He said, "Two men went into the temple courtyard to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.


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The Pharisee stood up and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people! I'm not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven't committed adultery. I'm not even like this tax collector.


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"But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'


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"I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God's approval, but the Pharisee didn't. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored."


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Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that.


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But Jesus called the infants to him and said, "Don't stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God.


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You know the commandments: Never commit adultery. Never murder. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Honor your father and your mother."


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When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still need one thing. Sell everything you have. Distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"


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Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."


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Jesus said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God


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will certainly receive many times as much in this life and will receive eternal life in the world to come."


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Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said to them, "We're going to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true.


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But they didn't understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them, and they didn't know what he meant.


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The people at the front of the crowd told the blind man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"


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Immediately, he could see again. He followed Jesus and praised God. All the people saw this, and they, too, praised God.


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He tried to see who Jesus was. But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd.


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When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today."


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But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, "He went to be the guest of a sinner."


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{Later, at dinner,} Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Lord, I'll give half of my property to the poor. I'll pay four times as much as I owe to those I have cheated in any way."


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Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "You and your family have been saved today. You've shown that you, too, are one of Abraham's descendants.


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Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear suddenly. While Jesus had the people's attention, he used this illustration.


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{Before he left,} he called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He said to his servants, 'Invest this money until I come back.'


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"The citizens of his own country hated him. They sent representatives to follow him and say {to the person who was going to appoint him}, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'


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"After he was appointed king, he came back. Then he said, 'Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.'


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"The king said to him, 'Good job! You're a good servant. You proved that you could be trusted with a little money. Take charge of ten cities.'


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"Then the other servant said, 'Sir, look! Here's your coin. I've kept it in a cloth for safekeeping because


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I was afraid of you. You're a tough person to get along with. You take what isn't yours and harvest grain you haven't planted.'


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"The king said to him, 'I'll judge you by what you've said, you evil servant! You knew that I was a tough person to get along with. You knew that I take what isn't mine and harvest grain I haven't planted.


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Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.'


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"'I can guarantee that everyone who has something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don't have much.


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When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives (as it was called), Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.


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He said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it.


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By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen.


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They shouted joyfully, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven."


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He said, "If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it.


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The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side.


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They will level you to the ground and kill your people. One stone will not be left on top of another, because you didn't recognize the time when God came to help you."


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He said to them, "Scripture says, 'My house will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves."


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Jesus taught in the temple courtyard every day. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people looked for a way to kill him.


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One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard and telling them the Good News. The chief priests, scribes, and leaders came up to him.


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They asked him, "Tell us, what gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?"


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They talked about this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'


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But if we say, 'from humans,' everyone will stone us to death. They're convinced that John was a prophet."


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Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to the people: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to vineyard workers, and went on a long trip.


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"At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to obtain from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard. But the workers beat the servant and sent him back with nothing.


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So he sent a different servant. The workers beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him back with nothing.


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"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I'll send my son, whom I love. They'll probably respect him.'


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"When the workers saw him, they talked it over among themselves. They said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'


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So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?


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He will destroy these workers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "That's unthinkable!"


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Then Jesus looked straight at them and asked, "What, then, does this Scripture verse mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?


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Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken. If that stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person."


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The scribes and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.


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So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor.


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They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don't play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully.


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He said to them, "Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God."


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They couldn't make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.


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"Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'


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and so did the third. In the same way all seven brothers married the widow, died, and left no children.


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But people who are considered worthy to come back to life and live in the next world will neither marry


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nor die anymore. They are the same as the angels. They are God's children who have come back to life.


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"Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush that the dead come back to life. He says that the Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


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"Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces, to have the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at dinners.


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Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box.


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All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."


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Some {of the disciples} were talking about the temple complex. They noted that it was built with fine stones and decorated with beautiful gifts. So Jesus said,


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"About these buildings that you see—the time will come when not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."


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The disciples asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will occur?"


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Jesus said, "Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he!' and 'The time is near.' Don't follow them!


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"When you hear of wars and revolutions, don't be terrified! These things must happen first, but the end will not come immediately."


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There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and dreadful diseases in various places. Terrifying sights and miraculous signs will come from the sky.


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"Before all these things happen, people will arrest and persecute you. They will hand you over to their synagogues and put you into their prisons. They will drag you in front of kings and governors because of my name.


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Then those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those of you in Jerusalem should leave it. Those of you in the fields shouldn't go back into them.


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"How horrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Indeed, the land will suffer very hard times, and its people will be punished.


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Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations {to do this} are over.


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"Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea.


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People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.


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"When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near."


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"Make sure that you don't become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise


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Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man."


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During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there.


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The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.


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Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus.


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So Judas promised to do it. He kept looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when there was no crowd.


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He told them, "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him into the house he enters.


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Tell the owner of the house that the teacher asks, 'Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'


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Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, "This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me."


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When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new promise made with my blood."


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The Son of Man is going to die the way it has been planned for him. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays him."


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Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest.


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Jesus said to them, "The kings of nations have power over their people, and those in authority call themselves friends of the people.


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But you're not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant.


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Who's the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn't it really the person who sits at the table? But I'm among you as a servant.


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You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will also sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel."


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{Then the Lord said,} "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks.


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But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples."


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Jesus replied, "Peter, I can guarantee that the rooster won't crow tonight until you say three times that you don't know me."


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Then Jesus said to them, "When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn't lack anything, did you?" "Not a thing!" they answered.


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Then he said to them, "But now, the person who has a wallet and a traveling bag should take them along. The person who doesn't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one.


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I can guarantee that the Scripture passage which says, 'He was counted with criminals,' must find its fulfillment in me. Indeed, whatever is written about me will come true."


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"Father, if it is your will, take this cup {of suffering} away from me. However, your will must be done, not mine."


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When Jesus ended his prayer, he got up and went to the disciples. He found them asleep and overcome with sadness.


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While he was still speaking to the disciples, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus to kiss him.


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The men who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen. So they asked him, "Lord, should we use our swords to fight?"


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Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple guards, and leaders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?


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I was with you in the temple courtyard every day and you didn't try to arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules."


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A female servant saw him as he sat facing the glow of the fire. She stared at him and said, "This man was with Jesus."


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About an hour later another person insisted, "It's obvious that this man was with him. He's a Galilean!"


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But Peter said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.


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Then the Lord turned and looked directly at Peter. Peter remembered what the Lord had said: "Before a rooster crows today, you will say three times that you don't know me."


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In the morning the council of the people's leaders, the chief priests and the scribes, gathered together. They brought Jesus in front of their highest court and asked him,


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Then all of them said, "So you're the Son of God?" Jesus answered them, "You're right to say that I am."


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They began to accuse Jesus by saying, "We found that he stirs up trouble among our people: He keeps them from paying taxes to the emperor, and he says that he is Christ, a king."


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The priests and the crowd became more forceful. They said, "He stirs up the people throughout Judea with his teachings. He started in Galilee and has come here."


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When Pilate found out that he was, he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod ruled Galilee and was in Jerusalem at that time.


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Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle.


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Meanwhile, the chief priests and the scribes stood there and shouted their accusations against Jesus.


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Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and made fun of him. They put a colorful robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.


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He told them, "You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I've questioned him in front of you and haven't found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him.


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Neither could Herod. So he sent this man back to us. This man hasn't done anything to deserve the death penalty.


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(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for his involvement in a riot that had taken place in the city and for murder.)


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A third time Pilate spoke to them. He asked, "Why? What has he done wrong? I haven't found this man deserving of the death penalty. So I'm going to have him whipped and set free."


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He freed Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rioting and murdering, because that's what they wanted. But he let them do what they wanted to Jesus.


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As the soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming into Jerusalem. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.


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Jesus turned to them and said, "You women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Rather, cry for yourselves and your children!


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The time is coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the women who couldn't get pregnant, who couldn't give birth, and who couldn't nurse a child.'


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When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him. The criminals were also crucified, one on his right and the other on his left.


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Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing." Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.


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The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, "He saved others. If he's the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!"


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One of the criminals hanging there insulted Jesus by saying, "So you're really the Messiah, are you? Well, save yourself and us!"


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But the other criminal scolded him: "Don't you fear God at all? Can't you see that you're condemned in the same way that he is?


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Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." After he said this, he died.


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When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly, this man was innocent!"


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Crowds had gathered to see the sight. But when all of them saw what had happened, they cried and returned to the city.


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All his friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched everything.


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There was a good man who had God's approval. His name was Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish council,


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but he had not agreed with what they had done. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.


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After he took it down from the cross, he wrapped it in linen. Then he laid the body in a tomb cut in rock, a tomb in which no one had ever been buried.


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The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed closely behind Joseph. They observed the tomb and how his body was laid in it.


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Then they went back to the city and prepared spices and perfumes. But on the day of worship they rested according to the commandment.


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Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb. They were carrying the spices that they had prepared.


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While they were puzzled about this, two men in clothes that were as bright as lightning suddenly stood beside them.


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The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. The men asked the women, "Why are you looking among the dead for the living one?


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He's not here. He has been brought back to life! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee.


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He said, 'The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and come back to life on the third day.' "


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The women left the tomb and went back to the city. They told everything to the eleven apostles and all the others.


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The women were Mary from Magdala, Joanna, and Mary (the mother of James). There were also other women with them. They told the apostles everything.


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But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look inside and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went away, wondering what had happened.


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On the same day, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem.


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One of them, Cleopas, replied, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened recently?"


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"What happened?" he asked. They said to him, "We were discussing what happened to Jesus from Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet in what he did and said in the sight of God and all the people.


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We were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. What's more, this is now the third day since everything happened.


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Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn't see him."


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Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are! You're so slow to believe everything the prophets said!


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Then he began with Moses' Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures.


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They urged him, "Stay with us! It's getting late, and the day is almost over." So he went to stay with them.


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While he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to them.


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They said to each other, "Weren't we excited when he talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?"


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That same hour they went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven apostles and those who were with them gathered together.


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Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.


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While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus stood among them. He said to them, "Peace be with you!"


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Look at my hands and feet, and see that it's really me. Touch me, and see for yourselves. Ghosts don't have flesh and bones, but you can see that I do."


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The disciples were overcome with joy and amazement because this seemed too good to be true. Then Jesus asked them, "Do you have anything to eat?"


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Then he said to them, "These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true."


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He said to them, "Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day.


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Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.


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"I'm sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven."


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John came to declare the truth about the light so that everyone would become believers through his message.


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He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn't recognize him.


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These people didn't become God's children in a physical way—from a human impulse or from a husband's desire {to have a child}. They were born from God.


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The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth.


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(John declared the truth about him when he said loudly, "This is the person about whom I said, 'The one who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.' ")


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The Teachings were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ.


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No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known.


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This was John's answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"


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They asked him, "Well, are you Elijah?" John answered, "No, I'm not." Then they asked, "Are you the prophet?" John replied, "No."


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So they asked him, "Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"


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John said, "I'm a voice crying out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord straight,' as the prophet Isaiah said."


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John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, "Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.


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He is the one I spoke about when I said, 'A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.'


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I didn't know who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel."


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I didn't know who he was. But God, who sent me to baptize with water, had told me, 'When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, you'll know that person is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'


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Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which means "teacher"), "where are you staying?"


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Jesus told them, "Come, and you will see." So they went to see where he was staying and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about ten o'clock in the morning.


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Andrew at once found his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ").


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Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You are Simon, son of John. Your name will be Cephas" (which means "Peter").


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Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man whom Moses wrote about in his teachings and whom the prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from the city of Nazareth."


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Nathanael asked Jesus, "How do you know anything about me?" Jesus answered him, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."


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Jesus replied, "You believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that."


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Jesus said to Nathanael, "I can guarantee this truth: You will see the sky open and God's angels going up and coming down to the Son of Man."


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Six stone water jars were there. They were used for Jewish purification rituals. Each jar held 18 to 27 gallons.


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Jesus said to them, "Pour some, and take it to the person in charge." The servers did as they were told.


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The person in charge tasted the water that had become wine. He didn't know where it had come from, although the servers who had poured the water knew. The person in charge called the groom


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and said to him, "Everyone serves the best wine first. When people are drunk, the host serves cheap wine. But you have saved the best wine for now."


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Cana in Galilee was the place where Jesus began to perform miracles. He made his glory public there, and his disciples believed in him.


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After this, Jesus, his mother, brothers, and disciples went to the city of Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.


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He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found moneychangers sitting there.


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He made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out of the temple courtyard. He dumped the moneychangers' coins and knocked over their tables.


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He told those who sold pigeons, "Pick up this stuff, and get it out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"


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The Jews said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you really think you're going to rebuild it in three days?"


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After he came back to life, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and this statement that Jesus had made.


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While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people believed in him because they saw the miracles that he performed.


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He came to Jesus one night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him."


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Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."


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Nicodemus asked him, "How can anyone be born when he's an old man? He can't go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?"


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Jesus answered Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.


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Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual.


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The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you don't know where the wind comes from or where it's going. That's the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit."


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I can guarantee this truth: We know what we're talking about, and we confirm what we've seen. Yet, you don't accept our message.


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If you don't believe me when I tell you about things on earth, how will you believe me when I tell you about things in heaven?


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God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.


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Those who believe in him won't be condemned. But those who don't believe are already condemned because they don't believe in God's only Son.


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This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil.


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People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed.


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But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen.


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Later, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized people.


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John was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim. Water was plentiful there. (People came to John to be baptized,


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So they went to John and asked him, "Rabbi, do you remember the man you spoke so favorably about when he was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? Well, he's baptizing, and everyone is going to him!"


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"The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.


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"The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that's all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone


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Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God's constant anger."


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He arrived at a city in Samaria called Sychar. Sychar was near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.


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Jacob's Well was there. Jesus sat down by the well because he was tired from traveling. The time was about six o'clock in the evening.


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The Samaritan woman asked him, "How can a Jewish man like you ask a Samaritan woman like me for a drink of water?" (Jews, of course, don't associate with Samaritans.)


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Jesus replied to her, "If you only knew what God's gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you living water."


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The woman said to him, "Sir, you don't have anything to use to get water, and the well is deep. So where are you going to get this living water?


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You're not more important than our ancestor Jacob, are you? He gave us this well. He and his sons and his animals drank water from it."


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But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life."


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The woman told Jesus, "Sir, give me this water! Then I won't get thirsty or have to come here to get water."


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The woman replied, "I don't have a husband." Jesus told her, "You're right when you say that you don't have a husband.


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Jesus told her, "Believe me. A time is coming when you Samaritans won't be worshiping the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.


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You don't know what you're worshiping. We {Jews} know what we're worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews.


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Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him.


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The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything." (Messiah is the one called Christ.)


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At that time his disciples returned. They were surprised that he was talking to a woman. But none of them asked him, "What do you want from her?" or "Why are you talking to her?"


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Jesus told them, "My food is to do what the one who sent me wants me to do and to finish the work he has given me.


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"Don't you say, 'In four more months the harvest will be here'? I'm telling you to look and see that the fields are ready to be harvested.


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The person who harvests the crop is already getting paid. He is gathering grain for eternal life. So the person who plants the grain and the person who harvests it are happy together.


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I have sent you to harvest a crop you have not worked for. Other people have done the hard work, and you have followed them in their work."


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Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman who said, "He told me everything I've ever done."


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So when the Samaritans went to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them. He stayed in Samaria for two days.


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They told the woman, "Our faith is no longer based on what you've said. We have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the savior of the world."


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But when Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people of Galilee welcomed him. They had seen everything he had done at the festival in Jerusalem, since they, too, had attended the festival.


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Jesus returned to the city of Cana in Galilee, where he had changed water into wine. A government official was in Cana. His son was sick in Capernaum.


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The official heard that Jesus had returned from Judea to Galilee. So he went to Jesus and asked him to go to Capernaum with him to heal his son who was about to die.


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While the official was on his way to Capernaum, his servants met him and told him that his boy was alive.


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The official asked them at what time his son got better. His servants told him, "The fever left him yesterday evening at seven o'clock."


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Then the boy's father realized that it was the same time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." So the official and his entire family became believers.


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Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie.


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Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, "Would you like to get well?"


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The sick man answered Jesus, "Sir, I don't have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I'm trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me."


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So the Jews told the man who had been healed, "This is a day of worship. You're not allowed to carry your cot today."


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Later, Jesus met the man in the temple courtyard and told him, "You're well now. Stop sinning so that something worse doesn't happen to you."


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His reply made the Jews more intent on killing him. Not only did he break the laws about the day of worship, but also he made himself equal to God when he said repeatedly that God was his Father.


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Jesus said to the Jews, "I can guarantee this truth: The Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing. Indeed, the Son does exactly what the Father does.


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The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. The Father will show him even greater things to do than these things so that you will be amazed.


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In the same way that the Father brings back the dead and gives them life, the Son gives life to anyone he chooses.


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so that everyone will honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him.


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I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won't be judged because they have already passed from death to life.


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"I can guarantee this truth: A time is coming (and is now here) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who respond to it will live.


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and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged.


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I can't do anything on my own. As I listen {to the Father}, I make my judgments. My judgments are right because I don't try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants.


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But I have something that testifies more favorably on my behalf than John's testimony. The tasks that the Father gave me to carry out, these tasks which I perform, testify on my behalf. They prove that the Father has sent me.


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The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form.


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So you don't have the Father's message within you, because you don't believe in the person he has sent.


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You study the Scriptures in detail because you think you have the source of eternal life in them. These Scriptures testify on my behalf.


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I have come with the authority my Father has given me, but you don't accept me. If someone else comes with his own authority, you will accept him.


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How can you believe when you accept each other's praise and don't look for the praise that comes from the only God?


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"Don't think that I will accuse you in the presence of the Father. Moses, the one you trust, is already accusing you.


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As Jesus saw a large crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?"


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Philip answered, "We would need about a year's wages to buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece."


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"A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won't go very far for so many people."


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Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." The people had plenty of grass to sit on. (There were about 5,000 men in the crowd.)


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Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same thing with the fish. All the people ate as much as they wanted.


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When the people were full, Jesus told his disciples, "Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing will be wasted."


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When the people saw the miracle Jesus performed, they said, "This man is certainly the prophet who is to come into the world."


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Jesus realized that the people intended to take him by force and make him king. So he returned to the mountain by himself.


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They got into a boat and started to cross the sea to the city of Capernaum. By this time it was dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.


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After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they became terrified.


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So they were willing to help Jesus into the boat. Immediately, the boat reached the shore where they were going.


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On the next day the people were still on the other side of the sea. They noticed that only one boat was there and that Jesus had not stepped into that boat with his disciples. The disciples had gone away without him.


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Other boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks.


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When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to the city of Capernaum to look for Jesus.


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Jesus replied to them, "I can guarantee this truth: You're not looking for me because you saw miracles. You are looking for me because you ate as much of those loaves as you wanted.


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Don't work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him."


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Jesus replied to them, "God wants to do something for you so that you believe in the one whom he has sent."


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The people asked him, "What miracle are you going to perform so that we can see it and believe in you? What are you going to do?


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Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert. Scripture says, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "


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Jesus said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Moses didn't give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.


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Jesus told them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty.


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I haven't come from heaven to do what I want to do. I've come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do.


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The one who sent me doesn't want me to lose any of those he gave me. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day.


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My Father wants all those who see the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day."


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They asked, "Isn't this man Jesus, Joseph's son? Don't we know his father and mother? How can he say now, 'I came from heaven'?"


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People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me brings them to me. I will bring these people back to life on the last day.


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The prophets wrote, 'God will teach everyone.' Those who do what they have learned from the Father come to me.


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I am the living bread that came from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. The bread I will give to bring life to the world is my flesh."


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Jesus told them, "I can guarantee this truth: If you don't eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have the source of life in you.


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Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will bring them back to life on the last day.


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The Father who has life sent me, and I live because of the Father. So those who feed on me will live because of me.


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This is the bread that came from heaven. It is not like the bread your ancestors ate. They eventually died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."


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When many of Jesus' disciples heard him, they said, "What he says is hard to accept. Who wants to listen to him anymore?"


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Jesus was aware that his disciples were criticizing his message. So Jesus asked them, "Did what I say make you lose faith?


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Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn't contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life.


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But some of you don't believe." Jesus knew from the beginning those who wouldn't believe and the one who would betray him.


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So he added, "That is why I told you that people cannot come to me unless the Father provides the way."


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Jesus' speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus.


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Jesus meant Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. Judas, who was one of the twelve apostles, would later betray Jesus.


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Jesus later traveled throughout Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because Jews there wanted to kill him.


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So Jesus' brothers told him, "Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you're doing.


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No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you."


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Go to the festival. I'm not going to this festival right now. Now is not the right time for me to go."


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The Jews were looking for Jesus in the crowd at the festival. They kept asking, "Where is that man?"


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The crowds argued about Jesus. Some people said, "He's a good man," while others said, "No he isn't. He deceives the people."


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Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts.


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Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn't have dishonest motives.


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Didn't Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?"


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Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn't come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship.


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If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses' Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship?


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But look at this! He's speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah?


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However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."


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Then, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, "You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn't decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He's the one you don't know.


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However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?"


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The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus.


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The Jews said among themselves, "Where does this man intend to go so that we won't find him? Does he mean that he'll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he'll teach the Greeks?


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What does he mean when he says, 'You will look for me, but you won't find me,' and 'You can't go where I'm going'?"


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On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing {in the temple courtyard}. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink.


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As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.' "


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Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.


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After some of the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, "This man is certainly the prophet."


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Other people said, "This man is the Messiah." Still other people asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee?


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Doesn't Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?"


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When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, "Why didn't you bring Jesus?"


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"Do Moses' Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person's side of the story? We can't judge a person without finding out what that person has done."


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They asked Nicodemus, "Are you saying this because you're from Galilee? Study {the Scriptures}, and you'll see that no prophet comes from Galilee."


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Early the next morning he returned to the temple courtyard. All the people went to him, so he sat down and began to teach them.


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The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone


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They asked this to test him. They wanted to find a reason to bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and used his finger to write on the ground.


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When they persisted in asking him questions, he straightened up and said, "The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her."


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One by one, beginning with the older men, the scribes and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman.


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The woman answered, "No one, sir." Jesus said, "I don't condemn you either. Go! From now on don't sin."


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Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark."


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Jesus replied to them, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true because I know where I came from and where I'm going. However, you don't know where I came from or where I'm going.


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Even if I do judge, my judgment is valid because I don't make it on my own. I make my judgment with the Father who sent me.


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The Pharisees asked him, "Where is your father?" Jesus replied, "You don't know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father."


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Jesus spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury area of the temple courtyard. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.


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Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, "I'm going away, and you'll look for me. But you will die because of your sin. You can't go where I'm going."


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Then the Jews asked, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means when he says, 'You can't go where I'm going'?"


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Jesus said to them, "You're from below. I'm from above. You're from this world. I'm not from this world.


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For this reason I told you that you'll die because of your sins. If you don't believe that I am the one, you'll die because of your sins."


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The Jews asked him, "Who did you say you are?" Jesus told them, "I am who I said I was from the beginning.


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I have a lot I could say about you and a lot I could condemn you for. But the one who sent me is true. So I tell the world exactly what he has told me."


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So Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you'll know that I am the one and that I can't do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me.


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Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn't left me by myself. I always do what pleases him."


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So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples.


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They replied to Jesus, "We are Abraham's descendants, and we've never been anyone's slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?"


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I know that you're Abraham's descendants. However, you want to kill me because you don't like what I'm saying.


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What I'm saying is what I have seen in my Father's presence. But you do what you've heard from your father."


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The Jews replied to Jesus, "Abraham is our father." Jesus told them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did.


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I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me. Abraham wouldn't have done that.


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You're doing what your father does." The Jews said to Jesus, "We're not illegitimate children. God is our only Father."


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Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. After all, I'm here, and I came from God. I didn't come on my own. Instead, God sent me.


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You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn't know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he's doing what comes naturally to him. He's a liar and the father of lies.


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The person who belongs to God understands what God says. You don't understand because you don't belong to God."


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The Jews replied to Jesus, "Aren't we right when we say that you're a Samaritan and that you're possessed by a demon?"


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The Jews told Jesus, "Now we know that you're possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, 'Whoever does what I say will never taste death.'


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Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?"


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Jesus said, "If I bring glory to myself, my glory is nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory, and you say that he is your God.


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Yet, you haven't known him. However, I know him. If I would say that I didn't know him, I would be a liar like all of you. But I do know him, and I do what he says.


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Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.


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Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him.


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We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming.


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After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and mixed the spit with dirt. Then he smeared it on the man's eyes


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and told him, "Wash it off in the pool of Siloam." (Siloam means "sent.") The blind man washed it off and returned. He was able to see.


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His neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?"


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Some of them said, "He's the one." Others said, "No, he isn't, but he looks like him." But the man himself said, "I am the one."


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He replied, "The man people call Jesus mixed some spit with dirt, smeared it on my eyes, and told me, 'Go to Siloam, and wash it off.' So I went there, washed it off, and received my sight."


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So the Pharisees asked the man again how he received his sight. The man told the Pharisees, "He put a mixture of spit and dirt on my eyes. I washed it off, and now I can see."


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Some of the Pharisees said, "The man who did this is not from God because he doesn't follow the traditions for the day of worship." Other Pharisees asked, "How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?" So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions.


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They asked the man who had been born blind another question: "What do you say about the man who gave you sight?" The man answered, "He's a prophet."


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Until they talked to the man's parents, the Jews didn't believe that the man had been blind and had been given sight.


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But we don't know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You'll have to ask him. He's old enough to answer for himself."


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(His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue.


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So once again the Jews called the man who had been blind. They told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner."


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The man responded, "I don't know if he's a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see."


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The man replied, "I've already told you, but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?"


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We know that God doesn't listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants.


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The Jews answered him, "You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us?" Then they threw him out {of the synagogue}.


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Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out {of the synagogue}. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"


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Then Jesus said, "I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind."


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Jesus told them, "If you were blind, you wouldn't be sinners. But now you say, 'We see,' so you continue to be sinners.


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"I can guarantee this truth: The person who doesn't enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in somewhere else is a thief or a robber.


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The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen.


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After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.


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They won't follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a stranger because they don't recognize his voice."


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I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food.


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A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.


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A hired hand isn't a shepherd and doesn't own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock.


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"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me. My sheep know me as I know the Father.


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I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd.


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No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do."


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Others said, "No one talks like this if he's possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?"


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The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."


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Jesus answered them, "I've told you, but you don't believe me. The things that I do in my Father's name testify on my behalf.


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My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father.


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Jesus replied to them, "I've shown you many good things that come from the Father. For which of these good things do you want to stone me to death?"


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The Jews answered Jesus, "We're going to stone you to death, not for any good things you've done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you're only a man."


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The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures),


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why do you say that I'm dishonoring God because I said, 'I'm the Son of God'? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world.


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But if I'm doing those things and you refuse to believe me, then at least believe the things that I'm doing. Then you will know and recognize that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father."


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Many people went to Jesus. They said, "John didn't perform any miracles, but everything John said about this man is true."


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(Mary was the woman who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was sick.)


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When Jesus heard the message, he said, "His sickness won't result in death. Instead, this sickness will bring glory to God so that the Son of God will receive glory through it."


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The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, not long ago the Jews wanted to stone you to death. Do you really want to go back there?"


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Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day don't stumble, because they see the light of this world.


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After Jesus said this, he told his disciples, "Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I'm going to Bethany to wake him."


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Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but the disciples thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was only sleeping.


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Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to the rest of the disciples, "Let's go so that we, too, can die with Jesus."


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Martha answered Jesus, "I know that he'll come back to life on the last day, when everyone will come back to life."


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Jesus said to her, "I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.


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Martha said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was expected to come into the world."


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After Martha had said this, she went back home and whispered to her sister Mary, "The teacher is here, and he is calling for you."


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The Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave. So they followed her. They thought that she was going to the tomb to cry.


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When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."


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Jesus said, "Take the stone away." Martha, the dead man's sister, told Jesus, "Lord, there must already be a stench. He's been dead for four days."


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So the stone was moved away from the entrance of the tomb. Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me.


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I've known that you always hear me. However, I've said this so that the crowd standing around me will believe that you sent me."


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The dead man came out. Strips of cloth were wound around his feet and hands, and his face was wrapped with a handkerchief. Jesus told them, "Free Lazarus, and let him go."


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So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, "What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles.


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If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation."


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You haven't even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."


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Caiaphas didn't say this on his own. As chief priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation.


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He prophesied that Jesus wouldn't die merely for this nation, but that Jesus would die to bring God's scattered children together and make them one.


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So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he left Bethany and went to the countryside near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.


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The Jewish Passover was near. Many people came from the countryside to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.


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As they stood in the temple courtyard, they looked for Jesus and asked each other, "Do you think that he'll avoid coming to the festival?"


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(The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where Jesus was should tell them so that they could arrest him.)


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Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there.


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Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.


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Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.


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(Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)


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Jesus said to Judas, "Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb.


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A large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life.


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On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.


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So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!"


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At first Jesus' disciples didn't know what these prophecies meant. However, when Jesus was glorified, the disciples remembered that these prophecies had been written about him. The disciples remembered that they had taken part in fulfilling the prophecies.


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The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and brought him back to life reported what they had seen.


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The Pharisees said to each other, "This is getting us nowhere. Look! The whole world is following him!"


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They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to meet Jesus."


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I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn't produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain.


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Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life.


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Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.


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"I am too deeply troubled now to know how to express my feelings. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time {of suffering}'? No! I came for this time of suffering.


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Father, give glory to your name." A voice from heaven said, "I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again."


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The crowd standing there heard the voice and said that it had thundered. Others in the crowd said that an angel had talked to him.


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The crowd responded to him, "We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"


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Jesus answered the crowd, "The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won't defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don't know where they're going.


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While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light." After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left.


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In this way the words of the prophet Isaiah came true: "Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord's power been revealed?"


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"God blinded them and made them close-minded so that their eyes don't see and their minds don't understand. And they never turn to me for healing!"


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Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn't admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue.


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Then Jesus said loudly, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me.


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I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark.


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If anyone hears my words and doesn't follow them, I don't condemn them. I didn't come to condemn the world but to save the world.


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Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day.


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I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it.


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Before the Passover festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus loved his own who were in the world, and he loved them to the end.


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While supper was taking place, the devil had already put the idea of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.


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The Father had put everything in Jesus' control. Jesus knew that. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God.


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Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel that he had tied around his waist.


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Peter told Jesus, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus replied to Peter, "If I don't wash you, you don't belong to me."


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Jesus told Peter, "People who have washed are completely clean. They need to have only their feet washed. All of you, except for one, are clean."


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(Jesus knew who was going to betray him. That's why he said, "All of you, except for one, are clean.")


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After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothes, he took his place at the table again. Then he asked his disciples, "Do you understand what I've done for you?


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I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them.


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"I'm not talking about all of you. I know the people I've chosen {to be apostles}. However, I've made my choice so that Scripture will come true. It says, 'The one who eats my bread has turned against me.'


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After saying this, Jesus was deeply troubled. He declared, "I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me!"


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Jesus answered, "He's the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I've dipped it in the sauce." So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.


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Then, after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, "Hurry! Do what you have to do."


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Judas had the moneybag. So some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the poor.


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When Judas was gone, Jesus said, "The Son of Man is now glorified, and because of him God is glorified.


text:
If God is glorified because of the Son of Man, God will glorify the Son of Man because of himself, and he will glorify the Son of Man at once."


text:
Jesus said, "Dear children, I will still be with you for a little while. I'm telling you what I told the Jews. You will look for me, but you can't go where I'm going.


text:
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "You can't follow me now to the place where I'm going. However, you will follow me later."


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Jesus replied, "Will you give your life for me? I can guarantee this truth: No rooster will crow until you say three times that you don't know me.


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My Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you?


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If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.


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Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.


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If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him {through me} and have seen him {in me}."


text:
Jesus replied, "I have been with all of you for a long time. Don't you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?


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Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I'm telling you doesn't come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants.


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Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of the things I do.


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"I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father.


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I will do anything you ask {the Father} in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son.


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That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn't see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.


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In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. You will live because I live.


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Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father's love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them."


text:
Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus, "Lord, what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"


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Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them.


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A person who doesn't love me doesn't do what I say. I don't make up what you hear me say. What I say comes from the Father who sent me.


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However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you.


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"I'm leaving you peace. I'm giving you my peace. I don't give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don't be troubled or cowardly.


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You heard me tell you, 'I'm going away, but I'm coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I'm going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.


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The ruler of this world has no power over me. But he's coming, so I won't talk with you much longer.


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However, I want the world to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father has commanded me to do. Get up! We have to leave."


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He removes every one of my branches that doesn't produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.


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Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.


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"I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can't produce anything without me.


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Whoever doesn't live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned.


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If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours.


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You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.


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If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commandments, and in that way I live in his love.


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I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father.


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You didn't choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for.


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If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don't have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that's why the world hates you.


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Remember what I told you: 'A servant isn't greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say.


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Indeed, they will do all this to you because you are committed to me, since they don't know the one who sent me.


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If I hadn't come and spoken to them, they wouldn't have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.


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If I hadn't done among them what no one else has done, they wouldn't have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.


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"The helper whom I will send to you from the Father will come. This helper, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, will declare the truth about me.


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You will be thrown out of synagogues. Certainly, the time is coming when people who murder you will think that they are serving God.


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But I've told you this so that when it happens you'll remember what I've told you. I didn't tell you this at first, because I was with you.


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However, I am telling you the truth: It's good for you that I'm going away. If I don't go away, the helper won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.


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He will come to convict the world of sin, to show the world what has God's approval, and to convince the world that God judges it.


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He will show the world what has God's approval, because I'm going to the Father and you won't see me anymore.


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When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won't speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come.


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Everything the Father says is also what I say. That is why I said, 'He will take what I say and tell it to you.'


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Some of his disciples said to each other, "What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won't see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he's going to the Father."


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So they were asking each other, "What does he mean when he says, 'In a little while'? We don't understand what he's talking about."


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Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you won't see me, and in a little while you will see me again'?


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I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness.


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A woman has pain when her time to give birth comes. But after the child is born, she doesn't remember the pain anymore because she's happy that a child has been brought into the world.


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"Now you're in a painful situation. But I will see you again. Then you will be happy, and no one will take that happiness away from you.


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When that day comes, you won't ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you.


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So far you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.


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"I have used examples to illustrate these things. The time is coming when I won't use examples to speak to you. Rather, I will speak to you about the Father in plain words.


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When that day comes, you will ask for what you want in my name. I'm telling you that I won't have to ask the Father for you.


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I left the Father and came into the world. Again, {as I've said,} I'm going to leave the world and go back to the Father."


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Now we know that you know everything. You don't need to wait for questions to be asked. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God."


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The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go your own way and leave me all alone. Yet, I'm not all alone, because the Father is with me.


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I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world."


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After saying this, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time is here. Give your Son glory so that your Son can give you glory.


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After all, you've given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him.


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"I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them.


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because I gave them the message that you gave me. They have accepted this message, and they know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.


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Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine. I have been given glory by the people you have given me.


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I won't be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I'm coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours.


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While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me. I watched over them, and none of them, except one person, became lost. So Scripture came true.


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"But now, {Father,} I'm coming back to you. I say these things while I'm still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have.


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I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don't belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.


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I'm dedicating myself to this holy work I'm doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.


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"I'm not praying only for them. I'm also praying for those who will believe in me through their message.


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I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.


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I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are.


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I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me.


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"Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.


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Righteous Father, the world didn't know you. Yet, I knew you, and these {disciples} have known that you sent me.


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I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known so that the love you have for me will be in them and I will be in them."


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After Jesus finished his prayer, he went with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley. They entered the garden that was there.


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So Judas took a troop of soldiers and the guards from the chief priests and Pharisees and went to the garden. They were carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.


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Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went to meet them and asked, "Who are you looking for?"


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They answered him, "Jesus from Nazareth." Jesus told them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with the crowd.


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Simon Peter had a sword. He drew it, attacked the chief priest's servant, and cut off the servant's right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)


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Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword away. Shouldn't I drink the cup {of suffering} that my Father has given me?"


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Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple was well-known to the chief priest. So that disciple went with Jesus into the chief priest's courtyard.


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Peter, however, was standing outside the gate. The other disciple talked to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard.


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The gatekeeper asked Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's disciples too?" Peter answered, "No, I'm not!"


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The servants and the guards were standing around a fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was standing there, too, and warming himself with the others.


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Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly for everyone to hear. I have always taught in synagogues or in the temple courtyard, where all the Jews gather. I haven't said anything in secret.


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When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, "Is that how you answer the chief priest?"


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Jesus replied to him, "If I've said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I've told the truth, why do you hit me?"


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Simon Peter continued to stand and warm himself by the fire. Some men asked him, "Aren't you, too, one of his disciples?" Peter denied it by saying, "No, I'm not!"


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One of the chief priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked him, "Didn't I see you with Jesus in the garden?"


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Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas' house to the governor's palace. The Jews wouldn't go into the palace. They didn't want to become unclean, since they wanted to eat the Passover.


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Pilate told the Jews, "Take him, and try him by your law." The Jews answered him, "We're not allowed to execute anyone."


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Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"


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Jesus answered, "My kingdom doesn't belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn't have its origin on earth."


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Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus replied, "You're correct in saying that I'm a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me."


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Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After Pilate said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I don't find this man guilty of anything.


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You have a custom that I should free one person for you at Passover. Would you like me to free the king of the Jews for you?"


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The Jews shouted again, "Don't free this man! Free Barabbas!" (Barabbas was a political revolutionary.)


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The soldiers twisted some thorny branches into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a purple cape on him.


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Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, "I'm bringing him out to you to let you know that I don't find this man guilty of anything."


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Jesus went outside. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cape. Pilate said to the Jews, "Look, here's the man!"


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When the chief priests and the guards saw Jesus, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate told them, "You take him and crucify him. I don't find this man guilty of anything."


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The Jews answered Pilate, "We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God."


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So Pilate said to Jesus, "Aren't you going to answer me? Don't you know that I have the authority to free you or to crucify you?"


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Jesus answered Pilate, "You wouldn't have any authority over me if it hadn't been given to you from above. That's why the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."


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When Pilate heard what Jesus said, he wanted to free him. But the Jews shouted, "If you free this man, you're not a friend of the emperor. Anyone who claims to be a king is defying the emperor."


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When Pilate heard what they said, he took Jesus outside and sat on the judge's seat in a place called Stone Pavement. (In Hebrew it is called Gabbatha.)


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The time was about six o'clock in the morning on the Friday of the Passover festival. Pilate said to the Jews, "Look, here's your king!"


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Then the Jews shouted, "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The chief priests responded, "The emperor is the only king we have!"


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He carried his own cross and went out {of the city} to a location called The Skull. (In Hebrew this place is called Golgotha.)


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Pilate wrote a notice and put it on the cross. The notice read, "Jesus from Nazareth, the king of the Jews."


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Many Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.


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The chief priests of the Jewish people told Pilate, "Don't write, 'The king of the Jews!' Instead, write, 'He said that he is the king of the Jews.' "


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When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them four ways so that each soldier could have a share. His robe was left over. It didn't have a seam because it had been woven in one piece from top to bottom.


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The soldiers said to each other, "Let's not rip it apart. Let's throw dice to see who will get it." In this way the Scripture came true: "They divided my clothes among themselves. They threw dice for my clothing." So that's what the soldiers did.


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Jesus' mother, her sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary from Magdala were standing beside Jesus' cross.


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Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there. He said to his mother, "Look, here's your son!"


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Then he said to the disciple, "Look, here's your mother!" From that time on she lived with that disciple in his home.


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After this, when Jesus knew that everything had now been finished, he said, "I'm thirsty." He said this so that Scripture could finally be concluded.


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A jar filled with vinegar was there. So the soldiers put a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick and held it to his mouth.


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Since it was Friday and the next day was an especially important day of worship, the Jews didn't want the bodies to stay on the crosses. So they asked Pilate to have the men's legs broken and their bodies removed.


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The soldiers broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with Jesus.


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However, one of the soldiers stabbed Jesus' side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out.


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The one who saw this is an eyewitness. What he says is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you, too, will believe.


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Later Joseph from the city of Arimathea asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus' body. (Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but secretly because he was afraid of the Jews). Pilate gave him permission to remove Jesus' body. So Joseph removed it.


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Nicodemus, the one who had first come to Jesus at night, went with Joseph and brought 75 pounds of a myrrh and aloe mixture.


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These two men took the body of Jesus and bound it with strips of linen. They laced the strips with spices. This was the Jewish custom for burial.


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A garden was located in the place where Jesus was crucified. In that garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed.


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Joseph and Nicodemus put Jesus in that tomb, since that day was the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.


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Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary from Magdala went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb's entrance.


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So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved. She told them, "They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they've put him."


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The two were running side by side, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.


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He bent over and looked inside the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there but didn't go inside.


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He also saw the cloth that had been on Jesus' head. It wasn't lying with the strips of linen but was rolled up separately.


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Mary, however, stood there and cried as she looked at the tomb. As she cried, she bent over and looked inside.


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She saw two angels in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. One angel was where Jesus' head had been, and the other was where his feet had been.


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The angels asked her why she was crying. Mary told them, "They have removed my Lord, and I don't know where they've put him."


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After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. However, she didn't know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus asked her, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Mary thought it was the gardener speaking to her. So she said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I'll remove him."


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Jesus said to her, "Mary!" Mary turned around and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (This word means "teacher.")


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Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me. I have not yet gone to the Father. But go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "


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Mary from Magdala went to the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord." She also told them what he had said to her.


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That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you!"


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Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don't forgive them, they are not forgiven."


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The other disciples told him, "We've seen the Lord." Thomas told them, "I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side."


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A week later Jesus' disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"


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Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe."


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Jesus said to Thomas, "You believe because you've seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me but believe."


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Jesus performed many other miracles that his disciples saw. Those miracles are not written in this book.


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But these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.


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Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two other disciples of Jesus were together.


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Simon Peter said to the others, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We're going with you." They went out in a boat but didn't catch a thing that night.


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He told them, "Throw the net out on the right side of the boat, and you'll catch some." So they threw the net out and were unable to pull it in because so many fish were in it.


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The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put back on the clothes that he had taken off and jumped into the sea.


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The other disciples came with the boat and dragged the net full of fish. They weren't far from the shore, only about 100 yards.


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When they went ashore, they saw a fire with a fish lying on the coals, and they saw a loaf of bread.


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Simon Peter got into the boat and pulled the net ashore. Though the net was filled with 153 large fish, it was not torn.


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Jesus told them, "Come, have breakfast." None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was. They knew he was the Lord.


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After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the other disciples do?" Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Feed my lambs."


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Jesus asked him again, a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Take care of my sheep."


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Jesus asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So Peter said to him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep.


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I can guarantee this truth: When you were young, you would get ready to go where you wanted. But when you're old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will get you ready to take you where you don't want to go."


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Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, "Follow me!"


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Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved. That disciple was following them. He was the one who leaned against Jesus' chest at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?"


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Jesus said to Peter, "If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!"


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So a rumor that that disciple wouldn't die spread among Jesus' followers. But Jesus didn't say that he wouldn't die. What Jesus said was, "If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?"


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This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.


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Jesus also did many other things. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the world wouldn't have enough room for the books that would be written.


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In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about what Jesus began to do and teach. This included everything from the beginning {of his life}


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until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen.


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After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about the kingdom of God.


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Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, "I've told you what the Father promises:


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So when the apostles came together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you're going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"


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Jesus told them, "You don't need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority.


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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."


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After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.


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They asked, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Jesus, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven."


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives. It is near Jerusalem, about half a mile away.


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When they came into the city, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, and Judas (son of James) went to the second-story room where they were staying.


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The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus), and they were joined by his brothers.


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"Brothers, what the Holy Spirit predicted through David in Scripture about Judas had to come true. Judas led the men to arrest Jesus.


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With the money he received from the wrong he had done, he bought a piece of land where he fell headfirst to his death. His body split open, and all his internal organs came out.


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Everyone living in Jerusalem knows about this. They even call that piece of land Akeldama, which means 'Field of Blood' in their dialect.


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You've read in Psalms, 'Let his home be deserted, and let no one live there,' and 'Let someone else take his position.' " "Therefore, someone must be added to our number to serve with us as a witness that Jesus came back to life.


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He must be one of the men who accompanied Jesus with us the entire time that the Lord Jesus was among us.


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This person must have been with us from the time that John was baptizing people to the day that Jesus was taken from us."


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The disciples determined that two men were qualified. These men were Joseph (who was called Barsabbas and was also known as Justus) and Matthias.


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Show us who is to take the place of Judas as an apostle, since Judas abandoned his position to go to the place where he belongs."


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When Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, came, all the believers were together in one place.


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Suddenly, a sound like a violently blowing wind came from the sky and filled the whole house where they were staying.


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Tongues that looked like fire appeared to them. The tongues arranged themselves so that one came to rest on each believer.


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All the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.


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They gathered when they heard the wind. Each person was startled to recognize his own dialect when the disciples spoke.


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We're Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. We're people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,


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Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the country near Cyrene in Libya. We're Jewish people, converts to Judaism, and visitors from Rome,


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Crete, and Arabia. We hear these men in our own languages as they tell about the miracles that God has done."


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Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. In a loud voice he said to them, "Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand this, so pay attention to what I say.


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'In the last days, God says, I will pour my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will speak what God has revealed. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.


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In those days I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on both men and women. They will speak what God has revealed.


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The sun will become dark, and the moon will become as red as blood before the terrifying day of the Lord comes.


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"Men of Israel, listen to what I say: Jesus from Nazareth was a man whom God brought to your attention. You know that through this man God worked miracles, did amazing things, and gave signs.


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By using men who don't acknowledge Moses' Teachings, you crucified Jesus, who was given over {to death} by a plan that God had determined in advance.


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But God raised him from death to life and destroyed the pains of death, because death had no power to hold him.


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This is what David meant when he said about Jesus: 'I always see the Lord in front of me. I cannot be moved because he is by my side.


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"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that our ancestor David died and was buried and that his tomb is here to this day.


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David was a prophet and knew that God had promised with an oath that he would place one of David's descendants on his throne.


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David knew that the Messiah would come back to life, and he spoke about that before it ever happened. He said that the Messiah wouldn't be left in the grave and that his body wouldn't decay.


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God used his power to give Jesus the highest position. Jesus has also received and has poured out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised, and this is what you're seeing and hearing.


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David didn't go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Take my highest position of power


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"All the people of Israel should know beyond a doubt that God made Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."


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When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"


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Peter answered them, "All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.


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This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God."


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Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added {to the group}.


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The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.


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A feeling of fear came over everyone as many amazing things and miraculous signs happened through the apostles.


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From time to time, they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it.


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The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other's homes and shared their food.


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At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group.


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At the same time, a man who had been lame from birth was being carried by some men. Every day these men would put the lame man at a gate in the temple courtyard. The gate was called Beautiful Gate. There he would beg for handouts from people going into the courtyard.


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When the man saw that Peter and John were about to go into the courtyard, he asked them for a handout.


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However, Peter said to him, "I don't have any money, but I'll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!"


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Peter took hold of the man's right hand and began to help him up. Immediately, the man's feet and ankles became strong.


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Springing to his feet, he stood up and started to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyard. The man was walking, jumping, and praising God.


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They knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the temple's Beautiful Gate. The people were amazed and stunned to see what had happened to him.


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They were excited, and everyone ran to see them at the place called Solomon's Porch. The man wouldn't let go of Peter and John.


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When Peter saw this, he said to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed about this man? Why are you staring at us as though we have made him walk by our own power or godly life?


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The God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed Jesus over to Pilate. You rejected him in Pilate's presence, even though Pilate had decided to let him go free.


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We believe in the one named Jesus. Through his power alone this man, whom you know, was healed, as all of you saw.


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But in this way God made the sufferings of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets.


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Then times will come when the Lord will refresh you. He will send you Jesus, whom he has appointed to be the Christ.


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Heaven must receive Jesus until the time when everything will be restored as God promised through his holy prophets long ago.


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"Moses said, 'The Lord your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. Listen to everything he tells you.


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You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, 'Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.'


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God has brought his servant back to life and has sent him to you first. God did this to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways."


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Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.


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These religious authorities were greatly annoyed. Peter and John were teaching the people and spreading the message that the dead will come back to life through Jesus.


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So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.


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But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.


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The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest's family were present.


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They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, "By what power or in whose name did you do this?"


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Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and leaders of the people,


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today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well.


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You and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands in your presence with a healthy body because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified Jesus Christ, but God has brought him back to life.


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No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person."


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After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.


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When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn't say anything against the two apostles.


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So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves.


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They said, "What should we do to these men? Clearly, they've performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can't deny that.


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So let's threaten them. Let's tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Jesus. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people."


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Peter and John answered them, "Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him.


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The authorities threatened them even more and then let them go. Since all the people were praising God for what had happened, the authorities couldn't find any way to punish Peter and John.


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When Peter and John were released, they went to the other apostles and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said.


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When the apostles heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, "Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.


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You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor), 'Why do the nations act arrogantly? Why do their people devise useless plots?


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"In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.


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Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus."


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When the apostles had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God boldly.


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The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.


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With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. {God's} abundant good will was with all of them.


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Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means "a person who encourages."


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They agreed to hold back some of the money {they had pledged} and turned only part of it over to the apostles.


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Peter asked, "Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? You've held back some of the money you received for the land.


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While you had the land, it was your own. After it was sold, you could have done as you pleased with the money. So how could you do a thing like this? You didn't lie to people but to God!"


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When Ananias heard Peter say this, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard about his death was terrified.


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So Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?" She answered, "Yes, that was the price."


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Then Peter said to her, "How could you and your husband agree to test the Lord's Spirit? Those who buried your husband are standing at the door, and they will carry you outside for burial."


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Immediately, she dropped dead in front of Peter. When the young men came back, they found Sapphira dead. So they carried her outside and buried her next to her husband.


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The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met on Solomon's Porch.


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As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by.


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Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured.


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The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action


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The angel told them, "Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life {in Christ}."


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Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles.


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When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn't find the apostles. The guards came back and reported,


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"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside."


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When the officer of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were puzzled about what could have happened.


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Then someone told them, "The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They're teaching the people."


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Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force.


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When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them.


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He said, "We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus' name when you teach. Yet, you've filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death."


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You murdered Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But the God of our ancestors brought him back to life.


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God used his power to give Jesus the highest position as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins.


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We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."


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But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up. He was a highly respected expert in Moses' Teachings. He ordered that the apostles should be taken outside for a little while.


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Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure.


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"After that man, at the time of the census, Judas from Galilee appeared and led people in a revolt. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.


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"We should keep away from these men for now. We should leave them alone. I can guarantee that if the plan they put into action is of human origin, it will fail.


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However, if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them. You may even discover that you're fighting against God."


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The council took his advice. They called the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak about the one named Jesus, and let them go.


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The apostles left the council room. They were happy to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for speaking about Jesus.


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Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah.


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At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.


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The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, "It's not right for us to give up God's word in order to distribute food.


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So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem.


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The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch.


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The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.


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The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.


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{One day} some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen's Synagogue.


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The liars stirred up trouble among the people, the leaders, and the scribes. So they went to Stephen, took him by force, and brought him in front of the Jewish council.


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Some witnesses stood up and lied about Stephen. They said, "This man never stops saying bad things about the holy place and Moses' Teachings.


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We heard him say that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses gave us."


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Stephen answered, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God who reveals his glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia. This happened before Abraham lived in Haran.


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"Then Abraham left the country of Chaldea and lived in the city of Haran. After his father died, God made him move from there to this land where we now live.


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"Yet, God didn't give Abraham anything in this land to call his own, not even a place to rest his feet. But God promised to give this land to him and to his descendants, even though Abraham didn't have a child.


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God told Abraham that his descendants would be foreigners living in another country and that the people there would make them slaves and mistreat them for 400 years.


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God also told him, 'I will punish the people whom they will serve. After that, they will leave that country and worship me here.'


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"God gave Abraham circumcision to confirm his promise. So when Abraham's son Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day. Isaac did the same to his son Jacob, and Jacob did the same to his twelve sons (the ancestors of our tribes).


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"Jacob's sons were jealous of their brother Joseph. They sold him into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt. But God was with Joseph


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and rescued him from all his suffering. When Joseph stood in the presence of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt), God gave Joseph divine favor and wisdom so that he became ruler of Egypt and of Pharaoh's whole palace.


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Then a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan brought a lot of suffering. Our ancestors couldn't find any food.


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They were taken to Shechem for burial in the tomb that Abraham purchased in Shechem from Hamor's sons.


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"When the time that God had promised to Abraham had almost come, the number of our people in Egypt had grown very large.


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This king was shrewd in the way he took advantage of our people. He mistreated our ancestors. He made them abandon their newborn babies outdoors, where they would die.


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"At that time Moses was born, and he was a very beautiful child. His parents took care of him for three months.


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So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man in what he said and did.


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When he saw an Israelite man being treated unfairly by an Egyptian, he defended the Israelite. He took revenge by killing the Egyptian.


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Moses thought his own people would understand that God was going to use him to give them freedom. But they didn't understand.


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The next day Moses saw two Israelites fighting, and he tried to make peace between them. He said to them, 'Men, you are brothers. Why are you treating each other unfairly?'


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After he said that, Moses quickly left Egypt and lived in Midian as a foreigner. In Midian he fathered two sons.


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"Forty years later, a messenger appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush in the desert of Mount Sinai.


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Moses was surprised when he saw this. As he went closer to look at the bush, the voice of the Lord said to him,


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'I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and didn't dare to look at the bush.


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I've seen how my people are mistreated in Egypt. I've heard their groaning and have come to rescue them. So now I'm sending you to Egypt.'


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"This is the Moses whom the Israelites rejected by saying, 'Who made you our ruler and judge?' This is the one God sent to free them and to rule them with the help of the messenger who appeared to him in the bush.


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This is the man who led our ancestors out of Egypt. He is the person who did amazing things and worked miracles in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert for 40 years.


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This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me.'


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This is the Moses who was in the assembly in the desert. Our ancestors and the messenger who spoke to him on Mount Sinai were there with him. Moses received life-giving messages to give to us,


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but our ancestors were not willing to obey him. Instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt.


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They told Aaron, 'We don't know what has happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. So make gods who will lead us.'


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That was the time they made a calf. They offered a sacrifice to that false god and delighted in what they had made.


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"So God turned away from them and let them worship the sun, moon, and stars. This is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?


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You carried along the shrine of Moloch, the star of the god Rephan, and the statues you made for yourselves to worship. I will send you into exile beyond the city of Babylon.'


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"In the desert our ancestors had the tent of God's promise. Moses built this tent exactly as God had told him. He used the model he had seen.


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After our ancestors received the tent, they brought it into this land. They did this with Joshua's help when they took possession of the land from the nations that God forced out of our ancestors' way. This tent remained here until the time of David,


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'The Lord says, "Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. What kind of house are you going to build for me? Where will I rest?


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"How stubborn can you be? How can you be so heartless and disobedient? You're just like your ancestors. They always opposed the Holy Spirit, and so do you!


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Was there ever a prophet your ancestors didn't persecute? They killed those who predicted that a man with God's approval would come. You have now become the people who betrayed and murdered that man.


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You are the people who received Moses' Teachings, which were put into effect by angels. But you haven't obeyed those teachings."


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But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked into heaven, saw God's glory, and Jesus in the position of authority that God gives.


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So Stephen said, "Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man in the position of authority that God has given him!"


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But the council members shouted and refused to listen. Then they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind,


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and after they had thrown him out of the city, they began to stone him to death. The witnesses left their coats with a young man named Saul.


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Then he knelt down and shouted, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them." After he had said this, he died.


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Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.


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Saul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.


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The crowds paid close attention to what Philip said. They listened to him and saw the miracles that he performed.


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Evil spirits screamed as they came out of the many people they had possessed. Many paralyzed and lame people were cured.


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A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great.


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Everyone from children to adults paid attention to him. They said, "This man is the power of God, and that power is called great."


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However, when Philip spread the Good News about the kingdom of God and the one named Jesus Christ, men and women believed him and were baptized.


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Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized, he became devoted to Philip. Simon was amazed to see the miracles and impressive things that were happening.


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When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.


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(Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)


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Simon saw that the Spirit was given to the Samaritans when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered Peter and John money


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Peter told Simon, "May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy God's gift.


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After they had boldly spoken about the message of the Lord, they spread the Good News in many Samaritan villages on their way back to Jerusalem.


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An angel from the Lord said to Philip, "Get up, and take the desert road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza."


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So Philip went. An Ethiopian man who had come to Jerusalem to worship was on his way home. The man was a eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of all the treasures of Queen Candace of Ethiopia.


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Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, "Do you understand what you're reading?"


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The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage.


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This was the part of the Scriptures that the official was reading: "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn't open his mouth.


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When he humbled himself, he was not judged fairly. Who from his generation will talk about his life on earth being cut short?"


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The official said to Philip, "I would like to know who the prophet is talking about. Is he talking about himself or someone else?"


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As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The official said to Philip, "Look, there's some water. What can keep me from being baptized?"


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The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him.


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When they had stepped out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official joyfully continued on his way and didn't see Philip again.


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Philip found himself in the city of Azotus. He traveled through all the cities and spread the Good News until he came to the city of Caesarea.


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and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way {of Christ} and imprison them in Jerusalem.


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Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his companions led him into Damascus.


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A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" Ananias answered, "Yes, Lord."


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The Lord told him, "Get up! Go to Judas' house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He's praying.


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Ananias replied, "Lord, I've heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem.


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Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison."


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The Lord told Ananias, "Go! I've chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel.


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Ananias left and entered Judas' house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit."


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Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized.


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After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him. Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days.


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Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, "Isn't this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn't he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests {in Jerusalem}?"


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Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.


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but Saul was told about their plot. They were watching the city gates day and night in order to murder him.


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After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him. They wouldn't believe that he was a disciple.


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Then Barnabas took an interest in Saul and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul had spoken about the one named Jesus in the city of Damascus.


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Then Saul went throughout Jerusalem with the disciples. He spoke boldly with the power and authority of the Lord.


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Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.


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When Peter was going around to all of God's people, he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda.


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Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and pick up your cot." Aeneas immediately got up.


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Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.


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A disciple named Tabitha lived in the city of Joppa. Her Greek name was Dorcas. She always helped people and gave things to the poor.


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Lydda is near the city of Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him. They begged Peter, "Hurry to Joppa! We need your help!"


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So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.


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Peter made everyone leave the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, "Tabitha, get up!" Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.


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Peter took her hand and helped her stand up. After he called the believers, especially the widows, he presented Tabitha to them. She was alive.


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The news about this spread throughout the city of Joppa, and as a result, many people believed in the Lord.


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A man named Cornelius lived in the city of Caesarea. He was a Roman army officer in the Italian Regiment.


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He and everyone in his home were devout and respected God. Cornelius gave many gifts to poor Jewish people and always prayed to God.


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One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God come to him and say, "Cornelius!"


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He stared at the angel and was terrified. Cornelius asked the angel, "What do you want, sir?" The angel answered him, "God is aware of your prayers and your gifts to the poor, and he has remembered you.


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After saying this, the angel left. Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly.


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Around noon the next day, while Cornelius' men were on their way and coming close to Joppa, Peter went on the roof to pray.


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He saw the sky open and something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners to the ground.


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A voice spoke to him a second time, "Don't say that the things which God has made clean are impure."


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While Peter was puzzled by the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house and went to the gate.


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Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are looking for you.


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The men replied, "Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He's a man who has God's approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say."


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Peter asked the men to come into the house and had them stay overnight. The next day Peter left with them. Some disciples from Joppa went along.


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The following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.


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He said to them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jewish man to associate or visit with anyone of another race. But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean.


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That is why I didn't object to coming here when you sent for me. I want to know why you sent for me."


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Cornelius answered, "Four days ago I was praying at home. It was at this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man dressed in radiant clothes stood in front of me.


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So send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. He's a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives by the sea.'


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So I sent for you immediately. Thank you for coming. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say."


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God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone's Lord.


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You know what happened throughout Judea. Everything began in Galilee after John spread the news about baptism.


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You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil's power. Jesus did these things because God was with him.


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We can testify to everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. People hung him on a cross and killed him,


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to all the people. He showed Jesus to witnesses, apostles he had already chosen. We apostles are those men who ate and drank with Jesus after he came back to life.


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In addition, all the prophets testify that people who believe in the one named Jesus receive forgiveness for their sins through him."


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All the believers who were circumcised and who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured on people who were not Jewish.


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"No one can refuse to baptize these people with water. They have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did."


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So Peter ordered that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for several days.


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The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that people who were not Jewish had accepted God's word.


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However, when Peter went to Jerusalem, the believers who insisted on circumcision began to argue with him.


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"I was praying in the city of Joppa when I fell into a trance. I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners from the sky. The sheet came near me.


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"A voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Don't say that the things which God has made clean are impure.'


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"At that moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to find me.


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The Spirit told me to go with them without any hesitation. Six believers {from Joppa} went with me, and we visited Cornelius' home.


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"He told us that he had seen an angel standing in his home. The angel told him, 'Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter.


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"When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came to these people. This was the same thing that happened to us in the beginning.


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I remembered that the Lord had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.'


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When they believed, God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So who was I to interfere with God?"


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When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, "Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life."


text:
Some of the believers who were scattered by the trouble that broke out following Stephen's death went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and the city of Antioch. They spoke God's word only to Jewish people.


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But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, arrived in Antioch. They started to spread the Good News about the Lord Jesus to Greeks.


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The Lord's power was with his followers, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.


text:
When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness. So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord.


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Barnabas was a dependable man, and he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A large crowd believed in the Lord.


text:
After finding Saul, Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Barnabas and Saul met with the church in Antioch for a whole year and taught a large group of people. The disciples were called Christians for the first time in the city of Antioch.


text:
One of them was named Agabus. Through the Spirit Agabus predicted that a severe famine would affect the entire world. This happened while Claudius was emperor.


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All the disciples in Antioch decided to contribute whatever they could afford to help the believers living in Judea.


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The disciples did this and sent their contribution with Barnabas and Saul to the leaders {in Jerusalem}.


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When he saw how this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread.


text:
After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.


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The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison.


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Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter's side, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At that moment the chains fell from Peter's hands.


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The angel told him, "Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!" Peter did this. Then the angel told him, "Put your coat on, and follow me."


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Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn't realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.


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They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.


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When Peter came to his senses, he said, "Now I'm sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people are expecting to happen to me."


text:
When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered at her home and were praying.


text:
When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so happy that instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and reported, "Peter is standing at the door!"


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The people told her, "You're crazy!" But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, "It has to be his angel."


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Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, "Tell James and the other believers about this." Then he left and went somewhere else.


text:
Herod searched for Peter but couldn't find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while.


text:
Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king's living quarters.)


text:
The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them.


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Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.


text:
After Barnabas and Saul delivered the contribution {to the leaders in Jerusalem}, they returned {to Antioch} from Jerusalem. They brought John Mark with them.


text:
Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (a close friend of Herod since childhood), and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch.


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While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them."


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After fasting and praying, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and released them {from their work in Antioch}.


text:
After Barnabas and Saul were sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to the city of Seleucia and from there sailed to the island of Cyprus.


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Arriving in the city of Salamis, they began to spread God's word in the synagogues. John Mark had gone along to help them.


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They went through the whole island as far as the city of Paphos. In Paphos they met a Jewish man named Barjesus. He was an astrologer who claimed to be a prophet.


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He was associated with an intelligent man, Sergius Paulus, who was the governor of the island. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.


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Elymas, whose name means astrologer, opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn't believe.


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and said, "You are full of dirty tricks and schemes, you son of the devil! You hate everything that has God's approval. Quit trying to distort the truth about the way the Lord wants people to live.


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The Lord is against you now. For a while you will be blind, unable to see the light of day." Suddenly, Elymas couldn't see a thing. He tried to find people to lead him.


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Paul and his men took a ship from Paphos and arrived in Perga, a city in Pamphylia. John Mark deserted them there and went back to Jerusalem.


text:
Paul and Barnabas left Perga and arrived in Antioch, a city near Pisidia. On the day of worship they went into the synagogue and sat down.


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After reading from Moses' Teachings and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent {a message} to Paul and Barnabas. The message said, "Brothers, if you have any words of encouragement for the people, feel free to speak."


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Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me.


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The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made them a strong nation while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. He used his powerful arm to bring them out of Egypt,


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He did all this in about four hundred and fifty years. "After that he gave his people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.


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"Then the people demanded a king, so God gave them Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years


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God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, 'I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'


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Before Jesus began his ministry, John {the Baptizer} told everyone in Israel about the baptism of repentance.


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When John was finishing his work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I'm not the person you're looking for. He will come later. I'm not even good enough to untie his sandals.'


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"Brothers—descendants of Abraham and converts to Judaism—the message that God saves people was sent to us.


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The people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers didn't know who Jesus was. They didn't understand the prophets' messages, which are read every day of worship. So they condemned Jesus and fulfilled what the prophets had said.


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When they had finished doing everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.


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and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These people are now witnesses and are testifying to the Jewish people about him.


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God has fulfilled the promise for us, their descendants, by bringing Jesus back to life. This is what Scripture says in the second psalm: 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.'


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"God stated that he brought Jesus back to life and that Jesus' body never decayed. He said, 'I will give you the enduring love promised to David.'


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After doing God's will by serving the people of his time, David died. He was laid to rest with his ancestors, but his body decayed.


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"So, brothers, I'm telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God's approval through Moses' Teachings.


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'Look, you mockers! Be amazed and die! I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if it were reported to you!' "


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As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak on the same subject the next day of worship.


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When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them and were persuading them to continue trusting God's good will.


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When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They used insulting language to contradict whatever Paul said.


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Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject the word and consider yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we are now going to turn to people of other nations.


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The Lord gave us the following order: 'I have made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.' "


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The people who were not Jews were pleased with what they heard and praised the Lord's word. Everyone who had been prepared for everlasting life believed.


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But Jews stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials of the city. These people started to persecute Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their territory.


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In protest against these people, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and went to the city of Iconium.


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The same thing happened in the city of Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large crowd of Jews and Greeks believed.


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But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some people who were not Jewish and poisoned their minds against the believers.


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Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city of Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly about the Lord, who confirmed their message about his good will by having them perform miracles and do amazing things.


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In the meantime, Paul and Barnabas found out that the non-Jewish people and the Jewish people with their rulers planned to attack them and stone them to death.


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A man who was born lame was in Lystra. He was always sitting because he had never been able to walk.


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He listened to what Paul was saying. Paul observed him closely and saw that the man believed he could be made well.


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The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come to us, and they look human."


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Zeus' temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice {to Paul and Barnabas}.


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When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they were very upset. They rushed into the crowd


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and said, "Men, what are you doing? We're human beings like you. We're spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.


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Yet, by doing good, he has given evidence of his existence. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and your lives with happiness."


text:
However, Jews from the cities of Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra and won the people over. They tried to stone Paul to death and dragged him out of the city when they thought that he was dead.


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But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day Paul and Barnabas left for the city of Derbe.


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They spread the Good News in that city and won many disciples. Then they went back to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (which is in Pisidia).


text:
They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, "We must suffer a lot to enter the kingdom of God."


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They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted the leaders to the Lord in whom they believed.


text:
From Attalia they took a boat and headed home to the city of Antioch {in Syria}. (In Antioch they had been entrusted to God's care for the work they had now finished.)


text:
When they arrived, they called the members of the church together. They reported everything God had done through them, especially that he had given people who were not Jewish the opportunity to believe.


text:
Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can't be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses' Teachings require.


text:
Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders about this claim.


text:
The church sent Paul and Barnabas {to Jerusalem}. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.


text:
The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them.


text:
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses' Teachings."


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After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren't Jewish could hear the Good News and believe.


text:
God, who knows everyone's thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren't Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us.


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God doesn't discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews.


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So why are you testing God? You're putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry.


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We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them—through his kindness."


text:
The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.


text:
Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name.


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'Afterwards, I will return. I will set up David's fallen tent again. I will restore its ruined places again. I will set it up again


text:
so that the survivors and all the people who aren't Jewish over whom my name is spoken, may search for the Lord, declares the Lord.


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Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat.


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After all, Moses' words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of worship."


text:
Then the apostles, the spiritual leaders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to the city of Antioch. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers.


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They wrote this letter for them to deliver: From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Dear brothers and sisters,


text:
We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men {to speak}.


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So we have come to a unanimous decision that we should choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul.


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The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary


text:
by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what's right. Farewell!


text:
So the men were sent on their way and arrived in the city of Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter.


text:
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke a long time to encourage and strengthen the believers.


text:
After Judas and Silas had stayed in Antioch for some time, the congregation sent them back to Jerusalem with friendly greetings to those who had sent them.


text:
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught people about the Lord's word and spread the Good News.


text:
After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back to every city where we spread the Lord's word. We'll visit the believers to see how they're doing."


text:
However, Paul didn't think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work.


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Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus.


text:
Paul arrived in the city of Derbe and then went to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived. Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek.


text:
Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. So he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in those places and because he knew that Timothy's father was Greek.


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As they went through the cities, they told people about the decisions that the apostles and spiritual leaders in Jerusalem had made for the people.


text:
Paul and Silas went through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia.


text:
They went to the province of Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't allow this.


text:
During the night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia. The man urged Paul, "Come to Macedonia to help us."


text:
As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia. We concluded that God had called us to tell the people of Macedonia about the Good News.


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So we took a ship from Troas and sailed straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we sailed to the city of Neapolis,


text:
and from there we went to the city of Philippi. Philippi is a leading city in that part of Macedonia, and it is a Roman colony. We were in this city for a number of days.


text:
On the day of worship we went out of the city to a place along the river where we thought Jewish people gathered for prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there.


text:
A woman named Lydia was present. She was a convert to Judaism from the city of Thyatira and sold purple dye for a living. She was listening because the Lord made her willing to pay attention to what Paul said.


text:
When Lydia and her family were baptized, she invited us to stay at her home. She said, "If you're convinced that I believe in the Lord, then stay at my home." She insisted. So we did.


text:
One day when we were going to the place of prayer, a female servant met us. She was possessed by an evil spirit that told fortunes. She made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.


text:
She used to follow Paul and shout, "These men are servants of the Most High God. They're telling you how you can be saved."


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She kept doing this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned to the evil spirit, and said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" As Paul said this, the evil spirit left her.


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When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.


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In front of the Roman officials, they said, "These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They're Jews,


text:
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered {the guards} to beat them with sticks.


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After they had hit Paul and Silas many times, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security.


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So the jailer followed these orders and put Paul and Silas into solitary confinement with their feet in leg irons.


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Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.


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Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners' chains came loose.


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The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.


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The jailer asked for torches and rushed into the jail. He was trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas.


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At that hour of the night, the jailer washed Paul and Silas' wounds. The jailer and his entire family were baptized immediately.


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He took Paul and Silas upstairs into his home and gave them something to eat. He and his family were thrilled to be believers in God.


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In the morning the Roman officials sent guards who told the jailer, "You can release those men now."


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The jailer reported this order to Paul by saying, "The officials have sent word to release you. So you can leave peacefully now."


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But Paul told the guards, "Roman officials have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us in jail, even though we're Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? There's no way they're going to get away with that! Have them escort us out!"


text:
The guards reported to the officials what Paul had said. When the Roman officials heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid.


text:
So the officials went to the jail and apologized to Paul and Silas. As the officials escorted Paul and Silas out of the jail, they asked them to leave the city.


text:
After Paul and Silas left the jail, they went to Lydia's house. They met with the believers, encouraged them, and then left.


text:
Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue.


text:
As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. On three consecutive days of worship, he had discussions about Scripture with the synagogue members.


text:
He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life, and that Jesus, the person he talked about, was this Messiah.


text:
Some of the Jews were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, especially a large group of Greeks who had converted to Judaism and the wives of many prominent men.


text:
Then the Jews became jealous. They took some low-class characters who hung around the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason's home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.


text:
When they didn't find Paul and Silas, they dragged Jason and some other believers in front of the city officials. They shouted, "Those men who have made trouble all over the world are now here in Thessalonica,


text:
and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by saying that there is another king, whose name is Jesus."


text:
Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea. When Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Berea, they entered the synagogue.


text:
The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true.


text:
But when the Jews in Thessalonica found out that Paul was also spreading God's word in Berea, they went there to upset and confuse the people.


text:
The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to the city of Athens. When the men left Athens, they took instructions back to Silas and Timothy to join Paul as soon as possible.


text:
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he saw that the city had statues of false gods everywhere. This upset him.


text:
He held discussions in the synagogue with Jews and converts to Judaism. He also held discussions every day in the public square with anyone who happened to be there.


text:
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers had discussions with him. Some asked, "What is this babbling fool trying to say?" Others said, "He seems to be speaking about foreign gods." The philosophers said these things because Paul was telling the Good News about Jesus and saying that people would come back to life.


text:
Then they brought Paul to the city court, the Areopagus, and asked, "Could you tell us these new ideas that you're teaching?


text:
As I was going through your city and looking closely at the objects you worship, I noticed an altar with this written on it: 'To an unknown god.' I'm telling you about the unknown god you worship.


text:
The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by humans,


text:
and he isn't served by humans as if he needed anything. He gives everyone life, breath, and everything they have.


text:
From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live.


text:
He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us.


text:
Certainly, we live, move, and exist because of him. As some of your poets have said, 'We are God's children.'


text:
So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like an image made from gold, silver, or stone, an image that is the product of human imagination and skill.


text:
"God overlooked the times when people didn't know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.


text:
He has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice, and he will use a man he has appointed to do this. God has given proof to everyone that he will do this by bringing that man back to life."


text:
When the people of the court heard that a person had come back to life, some began joking about it, while others said, "We'll hear you talk about this some other time."


text:
Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the court, and a woman named Damaris, and some other people.


text:
In Corinth he met a Jewish man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Aquila had been born in Pontus, and they had recently come from Italy because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,


text:
On every day of worship, Paul would discuss {Scripture} in the synagogue. He tried to win over Jews and Greeks who had converted to Judaism.


text:
But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted all his time to teaching the word of God. He assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.


text:
But they opposed him and insulted him. So Paul shook the dust from his clothes and told them, "You're responsible for your own death. I'm innocent. From now on I'm going to people who are not Jewish."


text:
Then he left the synagogue and went to the home of a man named Titius Justus, who was a convert to Judaism. His house was next door to the synagogue.


text:
The synagogue leader Crispus and his whole family believed in the Lord. Many Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.


text:
While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews had one thought in mind. They attacked Paul and brought him to court.


text:
They said, "This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are against Moses' Teachings."


text:
Paul was about to answer when Gallio said to the Jews, "If there were some kind of misdemeanor or crime involved, reason would demand that I put up with you Jews.


text:
But since you're disputing words, names, and your own teachings, you'll have to take care of that yourselves. I don't want to be a judge who gets involved in those things."


text:
Then all {the governor's officers} took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio couldn't have cared less.


text:
After staying in Corinth quite a while longer, Paul left {for Ephesus}. Priscilla and Aquila went with him. In the city of Cenchrea, Aquila had his hair cut, since he had taken a vow. From Cenchrea they took a boat headed for Syria


text:
and arrived in the city of Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. Paul went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.


text:
As he left, he told them, "I'll come back to visit you if God wants me to." Paul took a boat from Ephesus


text:
and arrived in the city of Caesarea. He went {to Jerusalem}, greeted the church, and went back to the city of Antioch.


text:
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, where he strengthened {the faith of} all the disciples.


text:
A Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, arrived in the city of Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and knew how to use the Scriptures in a powerful way.


text:
He had been instructed in the Lord's way and spoke enthusiastically. He accurately taught about Jesus but knew only about the baptism John performed.


text:
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him {home} with them and explained God's way to him more accurately.


text:
When Apollos wanted to travel to Greece, the believers {in Ephesus} encouraged him. They wrote to the disciples in Greece to tell them to welcome him. When he arrived in Greece, God's kindness enabled him to help the believers a great deal.


text:
In public Apollos helped them by clearly showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah and that the Jews were wrong.


text:
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces to get to the city of Ephesus. He met some disciples in Ephesus


text:
and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered him, "No, we've never even heard of the Holy Spirit."


text:
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. John told people to believe in Jesus, who was coming later."


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When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed.


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For three months Paul would go into the synagogue and speak boldly. He had discussions with people to convince them about the kingdom of God.


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But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and had nothing good to say in front of the crowd about the way {of Christ}, he left them. He took his disciples and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.


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This continued for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.


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People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul's skin to those who were sick. Their sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave them.


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Some Jews used to travel from place to place and force evil spirits out of people. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to force evil spirits out of those who were possessed. These Jews would say, "I order you {to come out} in the name of Jesus, whom Paul talks about."


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Then the man possessed by the evil spirit attacked them. He beat them up so badly that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.


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All the Jews and Greeks living in the city of Ephesus heard about this. All of them were filled with awe for the name of the Lord Jesus and began to speak very highly about it.


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Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins.


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After all these things had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem by traveling through Macedonia and Greece. He said, "After I have been there, I must see Rome."


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So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed longer in the province of Asia.


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During that time a serious disturbance concerning the way {of Christ} broke out in the city of Ephesus.


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Demetrius, a silversmith, was in the business of making silver models of the temple of Artemis. His business brought a huge profit for the men who worked for him.


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He called a meeting of his workers and others who did similar work. Demetrius said, "Men, you know that we're earning a good income from this business,


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and you see and hear what this man Paul has done. He has won over a large crowd that follows him not only in Ephesus but also throughout the province of Asia. He tells people that gods made by humans are not gods.


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There's a danger that people will discredit our line of work, and there's a danger that people will think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is nothing. Then she whom all Asia and the rest of the world worship will be robbed of her glory."


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When Demetrius' workers and the others heard this, they became furious and began shouting, "Artemis of the Ephesians is great!"


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The confusion spread throughout the city, and the people had one thought in mind as they rushed into the theater. They grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who traveled with Paul, and they dragged the two men into the theater with them.


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Even some officials who were from the province of Asia and who were Paul's friends sent messengers to urge him not to risk going into the theater.


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Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn't even know why they had come together.


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Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them.


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But when they recognized that Alexander was a Jew, everyone started to shout in unison, "Artemis of the Ephesians is great!" They kept doing this for about two hours.


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The city clerk finally quieted the crowd. Then he said, "Citizens of Ephesus, everyone knows that this city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis. Everyone knows that Ephesus is the keeper of the statue that fell down from Zeus.


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If Demetrius and the men who work for him have a legal complaint against anyone, we have special days and officials to hold court. That's where they should bring charges against each other.


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At this moment we run the risk of being accused of rioting today for no reason. We won't be able to explain this mob."


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When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.


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He went through that region and spoke many words of encouragement to the people. Then he went to Greece


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and stayed there for three months. When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia.


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Sopater (son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul.


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After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we boarded a ship at Philippi. Five days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days.


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On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing {Scripture} with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight.


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A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on and on, Eutychus was gradually falling asleep. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was dead when they picked him up.


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Then Eutychus went upstairs again, broke the bread, and ate. Paul talked with the people for a long time, until sunrise, and then left.


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We went ahead to the ship and sailed for the city of Assos. At Assos, we were going to pick up Paul. He had made these arrangements, since he had planned to walk overland to Assos.


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We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of Chios. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of Miletus.


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Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible.


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From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders of the church to meet with him {in Miletus}.


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When they were with him, he said to them, "You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.


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I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me.


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I didn't avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn't avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house.


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But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness.


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Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the {spiritual} death of any of you.


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Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood.


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Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them.


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So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.


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"I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God's holy people.


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I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, 'Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.' "


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When we finally left them, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we sailed to the island of Rhodes and from there to the city of Patara.


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We could see the island of Cyprus as we passed it on our left and sailed to Syria. We landed at the city of Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.


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In Tyre we searched for the disciples. After we found them, we stayed there for seven days. The Spirit had the disciples tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem.


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When our time was up, we started on our way. All of them with their wives and children accompanied us out of the city. We knelt on the beach, prayed,


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Our sea travel ended when we sailed from Tyre to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the believers in Ptolemais and spent the day with them.


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The next day we went to Philip's home in Caesarea and stayed with him. He was a missionary and one of the seven men who helped the apostles.


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During his visit he took Paul's belt and tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jewish.' "


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Then Paul replied, "Why are you crying like this and breaking my heart? I'm ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but also to die there for the sake of the Lord, the one named Jesus."


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Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to Mnason's home, where we would be staying. Mnason was from the island of Cyprus and was one of the first disciples.


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When the spiritual leaders heard about everything, they praised God. They said to Paul, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews are now believers, and all of them are deeply committed to Moses' Teachings.


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But they have been told that you teach all the Jews living among non-Jewish people to abandon Moses. They claim that you tell them not to circumcise their children or follow Jewish customs.


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Take these men, go through the purification ceremony with them, and pay the expenses to shave their heads. Then everyone will know that what they've been told about you isn't true. Instead, they'll see that you carefully follow Moses' Teachings.


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"{To clarify this matter,} we have written non-Jewish believers a letter with our decision. We told them that they should not eat food sacrificed to false gods, bloody meat, or the meat of strangled animals. They also should not commit sexual sins."


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The next day, Paul took the men and went through the purification ceremony with them. Then he went into the temple courtyard to announce the time when the purification would be over and the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.


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When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple courtyard. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul.


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Then they began shouting, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against the Jewish people, Moses' Teachings, and this temple. He has even brought Greeks into the temple courtyard and has made this holy place unclean."


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They had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with him in the city earlier and thought Paul had taken him into the temple courtyard.


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The whole city was in chaos, and a mob formed. The mob grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple courtyard. The courtyard doors were immediately shut.


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As the people were trying to kill Paul, the officer in charge of the Roman soldiers received a report that all Jerusalem was rioting.


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Immediately, he took some soldiers and officers and charged the crowd. When the crowd saw the officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


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Then the officer went to Paul, grabbed him, and ordered him to be tied up with two chains. The officer asked who Paul was and what he had done.


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Some of the crowd shouted one thing, while others shouted something else. The officer couldn't get any facts because of the noise and confusion, so he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks.


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When Paul came to the stairs of the barracks, the crowd was so violent that the soldiers had to carry him.


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As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the officer, "May I say something to you?" The officer replied to Paul, "Can you speak Greek?


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Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolution not long ago and led four thousand terrorists into the desert?"


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Paul answered, "I'm a Jew, a citizen from the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I'm asking you to let me talk to the people."


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The officer gave Paul permission to speak. So Paul stood on the stairs of the barracks and motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet. When the mob was silent, Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew language.


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"I'm a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict rules handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today.


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I persecuted people who followed the way {of Christ}: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed.


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The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them.


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"But as I was on my way and approaching the city of Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.


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"I answered, 'Who are you, sir?' "The person told me, 'I'm Jesus from Nazareth, the one you're persecuting.'


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"The men who were with me saw the light but didn't understand what the person who was speaking to me said.


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"Then I asked, 'What do you want me to do, Lord?' "The Lord told me, 'Get up! Go into the city of Damascus, and you'll be told everything I've arranged for you to do.'


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"I was blind because the light had been so bright. So the men who were with me led me into the city of Damascus.


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"A man named Ananias lived in Damascus. He was a devout person who followed Moses' Teachings. All the Jews living in Damascus spoke highly of him.


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He came to me, stood beside me, and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' At that moment my sight came back and I could see Ananias.


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"Ananias said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the one who has God's approval, and to hear him speak to you.


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What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.'


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"After that, I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the temple courtyard, I fell into a trance


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and saw the Lord. He told me, 'Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won't accept your testimony about me.'


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"I said, 'Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you.


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When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.'


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"But the Lord told me, 'Go! I'll send you on a mission. You'll go far away to people who aren't Jewish.' "


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Up to that point the mob listened. Then they began to shout, "Kill him! The world doesn't need a man like this. He shouldn't have been allowed to live this long!"


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So the officer ordered the soldiers to take Paul into the barracks and told them to question Paul as they whipped him. The officer wanted to find out why the people were yelling at Paul like this.


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But when the soldiers had Paul stretch out {to tie him to the whipping post} with the straps, Paul asked the sergeant who was standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't had a trial?"


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When the sergeant heard this, he reported it to his commanding officer. The sergeant asked him, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen."


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The officer replied, "I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen." Paul replied, "But I was born a Roman citizen."


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Immediately, the soldiers who were going to question Paul stepped away from him. The officer was afraid when he found out that he had tied up a Roman citizen.


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The officer wanted to find out exactly what accusation the Jews had against Paul. So the officer released Paul the next day and ordered the chief priests and the entire Jewish council to meet. Then the officer brought Paul and had him stand in front of them.


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Paul stared at the Jewish council and said, "Brothers, my relationship with God has always given me a perfectly clear conscience."


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Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you hypocrite! You sit there and judge me by Moses' Teachings and yet you break those teachings by ordering these men to strike me!"


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Paul answered, "Brothers, I didn't know that he is the chief priest. After all, Scripture says, 'Don't speak evil about a ruler of your people.' "


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When Paul saw that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted in the council, "Brothers, I'm a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I'm on trial because I expect that the dead will come back to life."


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After Paul said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to quarrel, and the men in the meeting were divided.


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(The Sadducees say that the dead won't come back to life and that angels and spirits don't exist. The Pharisees believe in all these things.)


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The shouting became very loud. Some of the scribes were Pharisees who argued their position forcefully. They said, "We don't find anything wrong with this man. Maybe a spirit or an angel actually spoke to him!"


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The quarrel was becoming violent, and the officer was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So the officer ordered his soldiers to drag Paul back to the barracks.


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The Lord stood near Paul the next night and said to him, "Don't lose your courage! You've told the truth about me in Jerusalem. Now you must tell the truth about me in Rome."


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In the morning the Jews formed a conspiracy. They asked God to curse them if they ate or drank anything before they had killed Paul.


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They went to the chief priests and leaders {of the people} and said, "We've asked God to curse us if we taste any food before we've killed Paul.


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Here's our plan: You and the council must go to the Roman officer on the pretext that you need more information from Paul. You have to make it look as though you want to get more accurate information about him. We'll be ready to kill him before he gets to you."


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Then Paul called one of the sergeants and told him, "Take this young man to the officer. He has something to tell him."


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The sergeant took the young man to the officer and said, "The prisoner Paul called me. He asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."


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The officer took the young man by the arm, went where they could be alone, and asked him, "What do you have to tell me?"


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The young man answered, "The Jews have planned to ask you to bring Paul to the Jewish council tomorrow. They're going to make it look as though they want more accurate information about him.


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Don't let them persuade you to do this. More than forty of them are planning to ambush him. They have asked God to curse them if they eat or drink anything before they have murdered him. They are ready now and are expecting you to promise {that you will bring Paul}."


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Then the officer summoned two of his sergeants and told them, "I want 200 infantrymen, 70 soldiers on horseback, and 200 soldiers with spears. Have them ready to go to Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight.


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The Jews had seized this man and were going to murder him. When I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I went with my soldiers to rescue him.


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and found their accusations had to do with disputes about Jewish teachings. He wasn't accused of anything for which he deserved to die or to be put into prison.


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Since I was informed that there was a plot against this man, I immediately sent him to you. I have also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in front of you.


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So the infantrymen did as they had been ordered. They took Paul to the city of Antipatris during the night.


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When the soldiers arrived in the city of Caesarea with Paul, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.


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After the governor had read the letter, he asked Paul which province he was from. When he found out that Paul was from the province of Cilicia,


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he said, "I'll hear your case when your accusers arrive." Then the governor gave orders to keep Paul under guard in Herod's palace.


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Five days later the chief priest Ananias went to the city of Caesarea with some leaders of the people and an attorney named Tertullus. They reported to the governor their charges against Paul.


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When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him. He said to Felix, "Your Excellency, through your wise leadership we have lasting peace and reforms that benefit the people.


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We have found this man to be a troublemaker. He starts quarrels among all Jews throughout the world. He's a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.


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The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul responded, "I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years. So I'm pleased to present my case to you.


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No one found me having a discussion with anyone in the temple courtyard or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues throughout the city.


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But I'll admit to you that I'm a follower of the way {of Christ}, which they call a sect. This means that I serve our ancestors' God and believe everything written in Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.


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I hope for the same thing my accusers do, that people with God's approval and those without it will come back to life.


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After many years I have come back to my people and brought gifts for the poor and offerings {for God}.


