# verses

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Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’


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He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’


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The Pharisees Investigate the Healing They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.


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Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’


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Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided.


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So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’


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The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight


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but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’


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His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.


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So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’


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He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’


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He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’


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The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.


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We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.


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They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.


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Spiritual Blindness Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’


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Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’


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Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.


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Jesus the Good Shepherd ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.


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The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


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When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.


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They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’


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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.


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The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.


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I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.


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No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’


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Others were saying, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’


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Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,


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So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’


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Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;


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What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.


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Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’


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The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’


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can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”?


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But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’


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He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there.


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Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’


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The Death of Lazarus Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.


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Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.


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But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’


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The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’


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Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.


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After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’


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Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.


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Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’


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Jesus the Resurrection and the Life When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.


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Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,


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She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’


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Jesus Weeps When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’


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The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there.


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When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’


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When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.


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But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’


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Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.


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Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’


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So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me.


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I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’


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The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’


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The Plot to Kill Jesus Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.


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So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.


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If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’


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You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’


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He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation,


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Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.


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


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They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?’


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Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.


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Mary Anoints Jesus Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.


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There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.


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Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.


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(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)


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The Plot to Kill Lazarus When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.


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Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.


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So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!’


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


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So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.


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The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’


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Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.


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They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’


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Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


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Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.


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Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.


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Jesus Speaks about His Death ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.


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Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’


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The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’


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The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’


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Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.


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While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’ The Unbelief of the People After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.


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This was to fulfil the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’


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‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’


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Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;


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Summary of Jesus’ Teaching Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me.


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I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.


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I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.


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The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge,


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for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.


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And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.’


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Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.


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The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper


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Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,


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Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.


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Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’


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Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’


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After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?


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Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.


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I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.”


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Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’


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Jesus Foretells His Betrayal After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’


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Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.


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After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’


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Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor.


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The New Commandment When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.


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If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.


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Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”


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I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.


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Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’


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Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.


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Jesus the Way to the Father ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.


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In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?


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And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.


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Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


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Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?


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Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.


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Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.


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Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.


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This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.


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In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.


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They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’


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Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’


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Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.


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Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.


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But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.


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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.


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You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.


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I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;


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but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.


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He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.


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Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.


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I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.


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Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.


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If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.


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If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.


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I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.


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You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.


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If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.


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Remember the word that I said to you, “Servants are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.


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But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.


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If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.


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If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.


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‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.


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They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.


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But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. The Work of the Spirit ‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.


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Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.


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When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.


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All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


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Sorrow Will Turn into Joy ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.’


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Then some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”; and “Because I am going to the Father”?’


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Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, ‘Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”?


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Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.


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When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.


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So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.


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On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.


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Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.


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Peace for the Disciples ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father.


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I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’


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Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’


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The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.


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I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’


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Jesus Prays for His Disciples After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,


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since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.


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And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.


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So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.


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‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.


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for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.


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I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.


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And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.


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While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.


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But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.


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I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.


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‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,


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that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.


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I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.


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Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.


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‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.


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I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’


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The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.


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So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


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Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, ‘For whom are you looking?’


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They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am he.’ Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.


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This was to fulfil the word that he had spoken, ‘I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.’


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Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.


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Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?’


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Jesus before the High Priest So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.


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Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.


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Peter Denies Jesus Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,


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but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.


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The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’


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Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.


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The High Priest Questions Jesus Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.


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Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.


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When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’


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Jesus answered, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’


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Peter Denies Jesus Again Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, ‘You are not also one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’


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One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’


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Jesus before Pilate Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.


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Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.’


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Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’


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Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’


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Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’


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Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’


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Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’ Jesus Sentenced to Death After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, ‘I find no case against him.


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But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’


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And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.


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Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’


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So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’


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When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’


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The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’


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He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer.


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Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’


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Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’


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From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.’


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When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha.


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Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, ‘Here is your King!’


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They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’


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and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.


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Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’


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Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.


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Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.”’


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When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.


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So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’


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And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


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When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’


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Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.


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After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’


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A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.


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When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


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Jesus’ Side Is Pierced Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.


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Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.


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(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.)


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These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’


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The Burial of Jesus After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.


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Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.


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They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.


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Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.


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And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.


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The Resurrection of Jesus Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.


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So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’


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Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,


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and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.


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Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;


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and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.


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They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’


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When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’


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Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’


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Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.


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Jesus Appears to the Disciples When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’


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After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.


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If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’


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Jesus and Thomas But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.


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So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’


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A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’


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Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’


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Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’


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The Purpose of This Book Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.


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But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.


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Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.


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Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.


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Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.


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He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.


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That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake.


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But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.


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So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.


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Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord.


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Jesus and Peter When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’


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A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’


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He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.


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Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’


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(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’


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Jesus and the Beloved Disciple Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’


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So the rumour spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’


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This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.


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But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.


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The Promise of the Holy Spirit In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning


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until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.


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After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.


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While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me;


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for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’


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The Ascension of Jesus So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’


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He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.


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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’


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When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.


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While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.


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They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’


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Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.


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When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.


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All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.


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In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said,


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‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—


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(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.


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This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)


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‘For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it”; and “Let another take his position of overseer.”


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So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,


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beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’


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Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen


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to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’


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The Coming of the Holy Spirit When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.


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And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.


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All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.


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And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.


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Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,


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Peter Addresses the Crowd But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.


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“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.


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Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.


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And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.


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The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.


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‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—


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this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.


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But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.


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For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;


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‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.


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Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.


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Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”


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Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear.


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For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,


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Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’


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The First Converts Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’


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Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’


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And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’


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So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.


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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.


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Life among the Believers Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.


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Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,


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praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.


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Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon.


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And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.


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But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’


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And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.


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Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.


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and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


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Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished.


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When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?


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The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.


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And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.


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In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.


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so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus,


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who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.


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Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you.


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And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.”


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And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days.


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You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, “And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”


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When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’


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Peter and John before the Council While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,


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much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.


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with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.


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When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’


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if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,


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let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.


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There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’


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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.


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When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.


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They said, ‘What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.


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But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.’


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But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;


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After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.


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The Believers Pray for Boldness After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.


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When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,


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it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: “Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?


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The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.”


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For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,


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And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,


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while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’


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When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.


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The Believers Share Their Possessions Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.


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With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.


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There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.


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There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’).


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Ananias and Sapphira But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property;


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with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.


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‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?


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While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’


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Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it.


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Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’


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Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’


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Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.


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The Apostles Heal Many Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.


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so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by.


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A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.


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The Apostles Are Persecuted Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy,


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When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.


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But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported,


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‘We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’


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Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on.


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Then someone arrived and announced, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’


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Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.


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When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,


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saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’


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God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.


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And 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 in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.


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For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.


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After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.


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So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail;


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but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’ They were convinced by him,


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and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.


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As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name.


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And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.


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Seven Chosen to Serve Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.


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And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.


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Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,


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What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.


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The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.


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The Arrest of Stephen Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.


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Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.


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Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’


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They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council.


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They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law;


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for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’


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And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


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And Stephen replied: ‘Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,


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Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living.


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He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.


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And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and maltreat them for four hundred years.


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“But I will judge the nation that they serve,” said God, “and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.”


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Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.


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and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favour and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.


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Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food.


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But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit.


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On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.


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Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all;


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and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


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‘But as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied


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He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die.


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At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house;


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When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.


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He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand.


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The next day he came to some of them as they were quarrelling and tried to reconcile them, saying, “Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?”


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But the man who was wronging his neighbour pushed Moses aside, saying, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?


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When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.


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‘Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.


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When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord:


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“I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.


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Then the Lord said to him, “Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.


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I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.”


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‘It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


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He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.


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This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, “God will raise up a prophet for you from your own people as he raised me up.”


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He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us.


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Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,


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saying to Aaron, “Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.”


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At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and revelled in the works of their hands.


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But God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?


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No; you took along the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; so I will remove you beyond Babylon.”


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‘Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.


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Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David,


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“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?


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‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.


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Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers.


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The Stoning of Stephen When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.


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But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.


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Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.


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8 And Saul approved of their killing him. Saul Persecutes the Church That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.


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But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.


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Philip Preaches in Samaria Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word.


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The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did,


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for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured.


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Now a certain man named Simon had previously practised magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great.


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All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’


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But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.


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Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.


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Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.


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(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).


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Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,


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saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’


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But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!


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Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.


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Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.


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Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.)


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So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship


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So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’


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He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.


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Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.


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In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’


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The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’


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Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.


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As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’


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He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.


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When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.


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But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.


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The Conversion of Saul Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest


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and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.


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Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.


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Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.


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Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’


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The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,


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and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’


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But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;


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But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;


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So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’


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And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized,


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and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul Preaches in Damascus For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,


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All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’


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Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.


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but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him;


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but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.


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Saul in Jerusalem When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.


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But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.


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Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.


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The Healing of Aeneas Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda.


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Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!’ And immediately he got up.


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Peter in Lydda and Joppa Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.


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Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’


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So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.


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Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.


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He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.


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Peter and Cornelius In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called.


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He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.


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One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’


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He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.


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When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him,


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About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.


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He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance.


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He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners.


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Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate.


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While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you.


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So Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?’


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They answered, ‘Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.’


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So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him.


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The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.


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and he said to them, ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.


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Cornelius replied, ‘Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me.


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Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.”


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Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.’


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Gentiles Hear the Good News Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality,


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You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.


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how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.


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We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;


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not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.


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He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.


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All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’


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Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.


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The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,


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‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’


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So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.


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Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.


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‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me.


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As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.


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But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”


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The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.


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He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;


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And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”


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If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’


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When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’


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The Church in Antioch Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.


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But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.


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When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion;


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for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.


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and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.


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One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius.


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The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea;


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James Killed and Peter Imprisoned About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.


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After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)


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When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.


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Peter Delivered from Prison The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.


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Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists.


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The angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’


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Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.


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After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.


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Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’


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As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.


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On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.


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They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind!’ But she insisted that it was so. They said, ‘It is his angel.’


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He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, ‘Tell this to James and to the believers.’ Then he left and went to another place.


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When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.


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The Death of Herod Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.


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On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them.


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And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.


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Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.


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Barnabas and Saul Commissioned Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul.


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While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’


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The Apostles Preach in Cyprus So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.


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When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.


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When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus.


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He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.


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But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


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and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?


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And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand.


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When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.


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Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem;


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but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.


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After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.’


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So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: ‘You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen.


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The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.


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After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance


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for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.


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Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.


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When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.”


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And as John was finishing his work, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.”


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‘My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.


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Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him.


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When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.


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and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people.


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he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”


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As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “I will give you the holy promises made to David.”


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Therefore he has also said in another psalm, “You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.”


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For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption;


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Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you;


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by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.


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“Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.”’


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As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath.


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When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.


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But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.


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Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles.


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For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”’


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When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.


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But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.


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Paul and Barnabas in Iconium The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.


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So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them.


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And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them,


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the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country;


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Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth.


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He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,


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When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’


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The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice.


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When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,


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‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.


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yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’


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But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.


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But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.


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The Return to Antioch in Syria After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch.


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There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’


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And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.


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From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.


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When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.


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The Council at Jerusalem Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’


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And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.


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So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.


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When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.


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But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.’


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After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers.


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And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;


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Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?


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On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’


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The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.


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Simeon has related how God first looked favourably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.


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“After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up,


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so that all other peoples may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things


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Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God,


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but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood.


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For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’


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The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers,


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with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.


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Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,


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we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


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We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.


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For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials:


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that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’


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So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.


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After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them.


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But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.


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Paul and Barnabas Separate After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’


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But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.


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The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.


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Timothy Joins Paul and Silas Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek.


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Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.


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As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.


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Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.


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When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;


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During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’


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When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.


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The Conversion of Lydia We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,


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and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.


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On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.


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A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.


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When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.


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Paul and Silas in Prison One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.


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While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.’


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She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.


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But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities.


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When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews


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The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.


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After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely.


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Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.


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About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.


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Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.


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When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.


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At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.


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He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.


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And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.’


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But Paul replied, ‘They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.’


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The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens;


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After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.


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The Uproar in Thessalonica After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


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And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures,


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explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’


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Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.


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But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the market-places they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house.


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When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also,


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and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.’


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Paul and Silas in Beroea That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.


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These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.


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But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.


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Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.


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Paul in Athens While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.


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So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the market-place every day with those who happened to be there.


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Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.’ (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)


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So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?


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Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.


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Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way.


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For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.


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The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,


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nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.


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From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live,


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so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us.


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For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.”


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Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.


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While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent,


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because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’


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When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’


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But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.


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There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,


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and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.


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When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus.


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When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’


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Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue.


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Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized.


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for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.’


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But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal.


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Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews;


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but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.’


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Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.


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Paul’s Return to Antioch After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow.


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When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.


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but on taking leave of them, he said, ‘I will return to you, if God wills.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus.


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When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.


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After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.


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Ministry of Apollos Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures.


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He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.


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He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.


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And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers,


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Paul in Ephesus While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.


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He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’


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Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’


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When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—


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He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.


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When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.


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This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.


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so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.


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Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’


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Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.


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When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.


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A number of those who practised magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins.


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The Riot in Ephesus Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.’


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So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.


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A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans.


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These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, ‘Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business.


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You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods.


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And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.’


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The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s travelling-companions.


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even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theatre.


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Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.


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Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defence before the people.


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But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’


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But when the town clerk had quietened the crowd, he said, ‘Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple-keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven?


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If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another.


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For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’


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Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia.


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When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece,


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where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.


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He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.


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but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.


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Paul’s Farewell Visit to Troas On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.


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A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead.


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But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’


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Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left.


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The Voyage from Troas to Miletus We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself.


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We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus.


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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.


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Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.


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When they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,


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serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.


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I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,


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as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus.


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And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,


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except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.


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But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.


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‘And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.


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Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.


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Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.


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Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.


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And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.


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In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”’


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grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.


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Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


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We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.


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We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.


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When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed


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When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day.


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The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him.


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He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’


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Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’


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Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.


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After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.


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When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.


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They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs.


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Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself observe and guard the law.


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But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgement that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.’


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Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them.


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Paul Arrested in the Temple When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him,


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shouting, ‘Fellow-Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’


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For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.


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Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.


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While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.


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Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


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Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done.


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Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.


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When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers.


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Paul Defends Himself Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, ‘May I say something to you?’ The tribune replied, ‘Do you know Greek?


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Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?’


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Paul replied, ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.’


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When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:


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‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.


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I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,


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as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.


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Paul Tells of His Conversion ‘While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.


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I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” Then he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.”


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Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.


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I asked, “What am I to do, Lord?” The Lord said to me, “Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.”


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Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.


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‘A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there,


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came to me; and standing beside me, he said, “Brother Saul, regain your sight!” In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him.


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Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice;


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And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.”


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Paul Sent to the Gentiles ‘After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance


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and saw Jesus saying to me, “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.”


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And I said, “Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.


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And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.”


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Paul and the Roman Tribune Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.’


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the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him.


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But when they had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?’


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When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, ‘What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.’


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The tribune answered, ‘It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.’ Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen.’


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Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.


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Paul before the Council Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.


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While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, ‘Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.’


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At this Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?’


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And Paul said, ‘I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.”’


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When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’


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When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.


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(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)


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Then a great clamour arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’


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When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.


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That night the Lord stood near him and said, ‘Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.’


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The Plot to Kill Paul In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.


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They went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul.


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Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.’


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Now the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul.


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Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him.’


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So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, ‘The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.’


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The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, ‘What is it that you have to report to me?’


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He answered, ‘The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case.


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But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.’


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So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, ‘Tell no one that you have informed me of this.’


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Paul Sent to Felix the Governor Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.


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This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him.


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I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.


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When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.’


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So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris.


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When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.


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On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,


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he said, ‘I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.’ Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.


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Paul before Felix at Caesarea Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.


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When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: ‘Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight.


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We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.


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By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.’


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Paul’s Defence before Felix When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: ‘I cheerfully make my defence, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation.


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They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.


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But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.


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I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.


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While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.


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But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.


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unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”’


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But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.’


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Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.


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Paul Held in Custody Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus.


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And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgement, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.’


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At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.


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After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favour, Felix left Paul in prison.


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Paul Appeals to the Emperor Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem


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where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him


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and requested, as a favour to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.


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Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.


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‘So’, he said, ‘let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.’


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After he had stayed among them for not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.


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When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.


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Paul said in his defence, ‘I have in no way committed an offence against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.’


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But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favour, asked Paul, ‘Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?’


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Paul said, ‘I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.


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Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.’


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Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, ‘You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.’


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Festus Consults King Agrippa After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.


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Since they were staying there for several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, ‘There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix.


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When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him.


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I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defence against the charge.


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So when they met here, I lost no time, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.


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Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.


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Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.


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But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor.’


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Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I would like to hear the man myself.’ ‘Tomorrow’, he said, ‘you will hear him.’


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Paul Brought before Agrippa So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in.


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And Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.


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But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him.


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But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write—


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Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:


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‘I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defence today against all the accusations of the Jews,


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because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.


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‘All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.


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They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee.


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a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews!


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‘Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.


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And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.


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By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.


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Paul Tells of His Conversion ‘With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,


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when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.


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When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.”


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But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.


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to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”


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Paul Tells of His Preaching ‘After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,


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but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.


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To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place:


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that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.’


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Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe While he was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’


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Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.


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Paul replied, ‘Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.’


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Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them;


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and as they were leaving, they said to one another, ‘This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.’


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Paul Sails for Rome When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.


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Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.


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The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for.


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Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.


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We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.


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Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them,


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saying, ‘Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’


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But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.


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Since the harbour was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favour of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbour of Crete, facing south-west and north-west.


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The Storm at Sea When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore.


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Since the ship was caught and could not be turned with its head to the wind, we gave way to it and were driven.


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By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control.


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After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea-anchor and so were driven.


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We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard,


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When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.


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Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss.


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I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.


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and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.”


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When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.


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So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms.


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Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.


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But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow,


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Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.’


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Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing.


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Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.’


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After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.


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The Shipwreck In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could.


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So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.


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But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.


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but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,


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and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.


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Paul on the Island of Malta After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.


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The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it.


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Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.


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When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.’


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They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.


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Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.


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It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.


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After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.


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They bestowed many honours on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.


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Paul Arrives at Rome Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.


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then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.


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The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.


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Paul and Jewish Leaders in Rome Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.


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When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.


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But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation.


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For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’


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They replied, ‘We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.


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But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’


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Paul Preaches in Rome After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.


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So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,


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“Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.


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Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’


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proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.


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Salutation Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,


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and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,


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through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,


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To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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Prayer of Thanksgiving First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world.


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For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers,


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I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.


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The Power of the Gospel For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


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For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’


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The Guilt of Humankind For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.


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Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse;


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for though they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened.


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and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.


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Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves,


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because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.


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For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural,


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and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.


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And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.


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They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips,


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They know God’s decree, that those who practise such things deserve to die—yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practise them.


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The Righteous Judgement of God Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.


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Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgement of God?


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Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?


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But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed.


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to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life;


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while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.


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All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.


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For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified.


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When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.


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They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them


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on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.


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The Jews and the Law But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God


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a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,


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you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?


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Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?


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Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law.


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For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.


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Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.


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By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, ‘So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.’


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But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)


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But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?


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And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), ‘Let us do evil so that good may come’? Their condemnation is deserved!


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None Is Righteous What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin,


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All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, there is not even one.’


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‘Their throats are opened graves; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of vipers is under their lips.’


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Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.


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For ‘no human being will be justified in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.


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Righteousness through Faith But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,


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the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,


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whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;


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it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.


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Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.


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since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.


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The Example of Abraham What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh?


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For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’


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But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.


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So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness irrespective of works:


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Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, ‘Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.’


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How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.


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He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,


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and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.


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God’s Promise Realized through Faith For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.


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For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,


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as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.


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Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’


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He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.


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No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,


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but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,


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Results of Justification Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,


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through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.


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and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.


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Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.


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Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.


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For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.


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But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


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Adam and Christ Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—


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Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.


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But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.


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And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.


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If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.


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Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.


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For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.


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But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,


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so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Dying and Rising with Christ What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?


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Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?


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Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.


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For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.


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We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.


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We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.


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No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.


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Slaves of Righteousness What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!


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Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?


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But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted,


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I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.


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So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death.


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But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.


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An Analogy from Marriage Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only during that person’s lifetime?


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Thus a married woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is discharged from the law concerning the husband.


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Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man, she is not an adulteress.


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In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.


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While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.


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But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are slaves not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit.


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The Law and Sin What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’


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But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead.


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Did what is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.


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The Inner Conflict For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin.


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For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.


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but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.


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Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.


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For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.


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For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,


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so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


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For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.


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For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot,


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But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.


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But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.


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If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.


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for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


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For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’


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and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.


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Future Glory I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.


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for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope


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that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.


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and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.


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Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.


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And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


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We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.


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For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.


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And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.


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God’s Love in Christ Jesus What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?


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He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?


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Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.


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Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?


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As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’


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For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,


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nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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God’s Election of Israel I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—


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For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.


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They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;


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to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.


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and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but ‘It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named after you.’


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This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.


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Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac.


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Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue,


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For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’


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For the scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.’


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God’s Wrath and Mercy You will say to me then, ‘Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?’


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But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is moulded say to the one who moulds it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’


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Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?


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What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction;


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and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—


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As indeed he says in Hosea, ‘Those who were not my people I will call “my people”, and her who was not beloved I will call “beloved”. ’


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‘And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people”, there they shall be called children of the living God.’


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And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, ‘Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved;


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And as Isaiah predicted, ‘If the Lord of hosts had not left survivors to us, we would have fared like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah.’


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Israel’s Unbelief What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;


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but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law.


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Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling-stone,


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as it is written, ‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’


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For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.


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Salvation Is for All Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’


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But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down)


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But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);


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because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


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For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.


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For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.


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But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?


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And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’


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But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’


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Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, ‘I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.’


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Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, ‘I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.’


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But of Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’


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Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.


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God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?


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‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.’


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But what is the divine reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’


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But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.


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What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,


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as it is written, ‘God gave them a sluggish spirit, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.’


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And David says, ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling-block and a retribution for them;


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The Salvation of the Gentiles So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.


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Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!


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Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry


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For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!


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If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.


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But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,


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do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.


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That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.


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Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.


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And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.


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For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.


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All Israel Will Be Saved So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.


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And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’


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As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors;


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so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.


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O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!


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The New Life in Christ I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.


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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.


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For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.


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the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.


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Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.


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Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’


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No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’


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Being Subject to Authorities Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.


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Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.


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For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval;


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for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.


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For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing.


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Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.


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Love for One Another Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.


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The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’


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An Urgent Appeal Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers;


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the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light;


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let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.


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Do Not Judge Another Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions.


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Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.


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Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.


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Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.


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Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God.


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If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.


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For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.


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Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.


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For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’


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Do Not Make Another Stumble Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another.


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I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.


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If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.


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For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


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Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat;


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The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.


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But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.


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Please Others, Not Yourselves We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.


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For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’


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For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.


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May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,


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The Gospel for Jews and Gentiles Alike Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.


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For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,


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and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’;


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and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’


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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


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Paul’s Reason for Writing So Boldly I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.


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Nevertheless, on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God


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to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


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For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,


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by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.


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Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation,


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but as it is written, ‘Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.’


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But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you


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when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.


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for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.


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They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.


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So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain;


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I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf,


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that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,


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so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.


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and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.


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Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ.


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Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.


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Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.


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Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them.


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Final Instructions I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offences, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them.


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For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.


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For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good, and guileless in what is evil.


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The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


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Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.


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Final Doxology Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages


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but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—


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Salutation Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,


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To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:


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I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,


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so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Divisions in the Church Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose.


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For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.


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What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’


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(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)


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For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.


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Christ the Power and Wisdom of God For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


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For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’


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Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


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For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.


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but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


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For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.


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Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.


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But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;


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God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,


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He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,


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Proclaiming Christ Crucified When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom.


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My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,


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The True Wisdom of God Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish.


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None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


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But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’—


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these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.


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For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God.


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Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.


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And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.


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Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually.


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Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.


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On Divisions in the Corinthian Church And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.


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I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready,


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for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?


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For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?


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What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.


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So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.


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The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each.


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According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.


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For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.


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the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.


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If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.


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If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.


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Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.


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For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’,


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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you,


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The Ministry of the Apostles Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.


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But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.


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I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.


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Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.


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I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, ‘Nothing beyond what is written’, so that none of you will be puffed up in favour of one against another.


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For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?


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Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you!


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For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals.


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We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute.


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and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;


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when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.


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Fatherly Admonition I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.


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For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.


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For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church.


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But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.


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Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife.


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And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?


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For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgement


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in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus,


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you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.


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Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?


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Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.


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Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


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Sexual Immorality Must Be Judged I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons—


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not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world.


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But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one.


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For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge?


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Lawsuits among Believers When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints?


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Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?


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If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?


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I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another,


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In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?


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Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites,


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And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


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Glorify God in Body and Spirit ‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything.


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‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!


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Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’


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Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.


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Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?


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Directions concerning Marriage Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: ‘It is well for a man not to touch a woman.’


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But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.


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For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.


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Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


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I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.


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But if they are not practising self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.


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To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband


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(but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.


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To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.


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And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.


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For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.


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But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you.


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Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.


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The Life That the Lord Has Assigned However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.


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Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.


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Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.


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Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever.


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For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.


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The Unmarried and the Widows Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.


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But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that.


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I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,


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and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,


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and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.


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I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;


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and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband.


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I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.


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If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly towards his fiancée, if his passions are strong, and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry.


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But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancée, he will do well.


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A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.


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But in my judgement she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.


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Food Offered to Idols Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


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Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one.’


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Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—


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yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.


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It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.


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‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.


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For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?


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But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.


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Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.


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The Rights of an Apostle Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?


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If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


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Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?


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For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned?


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Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever ploughs should plough in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop.


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If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.


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Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar?


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In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.


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But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!


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If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel!


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For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.


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What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.


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For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.


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To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law.


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To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law.


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To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some.


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Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.


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Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one.


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but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.


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Warnings from Israel’s History I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,


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and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.


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Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.’


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We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.


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These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.


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No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.


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The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?


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No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.


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Do All to the Glory of God ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things build up.


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If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.


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But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice’, then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—


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I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgement of someone else’s conscience?


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just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.


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Head Coverings I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.


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But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ.


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but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved.


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For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil.


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For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man.


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Abuses at the Lord’s Supper Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.


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For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it.


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Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.


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For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk.


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What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!


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The Institution of the Lord’s Supper For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,


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and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’


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In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’


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Partaking of the Supper Unworthily Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.


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But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.


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If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.


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Spiritual Gifts Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.


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Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.


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and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.


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To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,


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to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.


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All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.


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One Body with Many Members For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.


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For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.


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If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body.


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And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body.


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If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?


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The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’


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and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;


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whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member,


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that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.


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If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.


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And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.


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The Gift of Love If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.


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And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


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If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.


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Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.


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When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.


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For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.


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Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.


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For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.


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On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their building up and encouragement and consolation.


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Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.


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Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?


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It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played?


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So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.


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If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.


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So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.


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What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.


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Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying?


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nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.


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In the law it is written, ‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me,’ says the Lord.


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Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.


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If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?


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But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all.


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After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, ‘God is really among you.’


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Orderly Worship What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.


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If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.


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But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God.


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women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.


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If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.


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Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.


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The Resurrection of Christ Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,


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through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.


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For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,


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Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.


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For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.


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The Resurrection of the Dead Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?


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and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.


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We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.


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For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;


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Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.


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For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him.


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When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.


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Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?


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I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’


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Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.


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The Resurrection Body But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’


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And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.


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Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for human beings, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.


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There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.


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There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.


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So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.


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It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.


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Thus it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


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As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.


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Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.


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What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.


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in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.


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When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’


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Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.


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The Collection for the Saints Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia.


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On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.


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Plans for Travel I will visit you after passing through Macedonia—for I intend to pass through Macedonia—


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and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I go.


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I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.


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If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am;


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therefore let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I am expecting him with the brothers.


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Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.


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Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;


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I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people, and of everyone who works and toils with them.


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I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence;


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The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.


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Salutation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:


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Paul’s Thanksgiving after Affliction Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,


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who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.


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For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.


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If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering.


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Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.


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We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.


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Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.


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He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again,


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as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.


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The Postponement of Paul’s Visit Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with frankness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God—and all the more towards you.


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For we write to you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end—


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as you have already understood us in part—that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast.


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I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.


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Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not ‘Yes and No’; but in him it is always ‘Yes.’


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For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’, to the glory of God.


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I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith.


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And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.


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For I wrote to you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.


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Forgiveness for the Offender But if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but to some extent—not to exaggerate it—to all of you.


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so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.


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Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.


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Paul’s Anxiety in Troas When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord;


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but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.


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But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.


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For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;


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to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?


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For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.


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Ministers of the New Covenant Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?


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and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.


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Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God,


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who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.


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Now if the ministry of death, chiselled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside,


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For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory!


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not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside.


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But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside.


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And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.


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Treasure in Clay Jars Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.


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We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.


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In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


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For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.


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For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


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But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.


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always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.


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For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.


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But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak,


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because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.


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Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.


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Living by Faith So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.


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For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,


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because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.


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For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.


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For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.


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So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—


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For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.


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The Ministry of Reconciliation Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.


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We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.


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For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.


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And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.


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From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.


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So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!


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All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;


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that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.


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So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.


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For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


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For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’ See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!


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but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,


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truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;


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in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;


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as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;


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as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


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The Temple of the Living God Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?


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What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


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Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you,


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Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.


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Paul’s Joy at the Church’s Repentance Make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.


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I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.


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I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.


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For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within.


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and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.


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For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly).


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Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.


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For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.


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For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter.


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So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God.


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In this we find comfort. In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you.


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For if I have been somewhat boastful about you to him, I was not disgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well.


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And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.


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Encouragement to Be Generous We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;


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for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.


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and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,


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so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you.


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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.


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I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.


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For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.


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And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—


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now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.


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For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.


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I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between


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your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.


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As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.’


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Commendation of Titus But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have.


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For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.


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With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming of the good news;


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and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill.


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And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.


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As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.


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Therefore, openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.


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The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem Now it is not necessary for me to write to you about the ministry to the saints,


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for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.


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But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be;


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otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking.


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So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.


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The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.


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Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.


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He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.


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You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;


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for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.


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Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,


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while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.


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Paul Defends His Ministry I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold towards you when I am away!—


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I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards.


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for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments


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and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.


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Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we.


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Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.


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For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’


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We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.


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We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.


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For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ.


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We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labours of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged,


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so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action.


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I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.


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But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.


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For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.


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I may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.


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Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed God’s good news to you free of charge?


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And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the friends who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way.


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And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about.


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For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.


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So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.


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Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.


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What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority, but as a fool;


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For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face.


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To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.


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Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death.


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Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea;


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on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters;


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in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.


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In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas set a guard on the city of Damascus in order to seize me,


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Paul’s Visions and Revelations It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.


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I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.


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was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.


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On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.


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But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,


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even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.


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but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.


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Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.


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Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.


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The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.


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How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!


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Here I am, ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, because I do not want what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.


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Let it be assumed that I did not burden you. Nevertheless (you say) since I was crafty, I took you in by deceit.


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I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves with the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?


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Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? We are speaking in Christ before God. Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up.


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For I fear that when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; I fear that there may perhaps be quarrelling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.


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I fear that when I come again, my God may humble me before you, and that I may have to mourn over many who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practised.


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Further Warning This is the third time I am coming to you. ‘Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.’


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I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient—


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since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you.


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For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.


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Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to pass the test!


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But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have passed the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.


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For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect.


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So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.


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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.


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Salutation Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—


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who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


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There Is No Other Gospel I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—


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not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!


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As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!


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Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.


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Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin;


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for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.


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You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it.


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I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.


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to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being,


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nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.


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Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days;


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they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’


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Paul and the Other Apostles Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.


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I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.


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But because of false believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us—


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we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you.


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And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me.


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On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised


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(for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles),


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and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.


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Paul Rebukes Peter at Antioch But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned;


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for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction.


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And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.


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But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’


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yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.


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But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!


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But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor.


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For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;


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and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


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I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.


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Law or Faith You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!


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The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?


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Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?


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And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’


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For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’


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Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’


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But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.’


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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—


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in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


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The Promise to Abraham Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.


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Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, ‘And to offsprings’, as of many; but it says, ‘And to your offspring’, that is, to one person, who is Christ.


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My point is this: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.


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For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.


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The Purpose of the Law Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.


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Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law.


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But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.


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There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.


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My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property;


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And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’


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Paul Reproves the Galatians Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.


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Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?


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though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.


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What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.


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They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.


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It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.


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The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law?


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One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.


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Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.


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Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.


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For it is written, ‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.’


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But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.


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But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’


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5 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.


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The Nature of Christian Freedom Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.


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Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.


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You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.


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I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.


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But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed.


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For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.


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For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’


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For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.


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envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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The Fruit of the Spirit By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,


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Bear One Another’s Burdens My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.


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All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride.


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If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.


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So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.


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So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.


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It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.


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Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.


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May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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Salutation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:


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Spiritual Blessings in Christ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,


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just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.


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He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,


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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace


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he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,


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as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.


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In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,


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In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;


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this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.


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Paul’s Prayer I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason


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I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,


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so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,


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and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.


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God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,


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far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.


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in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.


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All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.


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even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—


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so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.


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For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—


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For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.


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One in Christ So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—


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remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.


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For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.


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He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,


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and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.


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So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,


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built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.


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Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—


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In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:


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that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


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Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.


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Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,


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and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;


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so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.


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I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,


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and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.


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I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,


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and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


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Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,


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Unity in the Body of Christ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,


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Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’


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(When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?


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He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)


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The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,


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until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.


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We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.


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from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.


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The Old Life and the New Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds.


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They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.


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They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practise every kind of impurity.


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You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,


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and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


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Rules for the New Life So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another.


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Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labour and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.


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Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.


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And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.


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Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,


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and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.


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and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.


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Renounce Pagan Ways But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.


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Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


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Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.


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for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’


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as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,


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giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour.


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Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.


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so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.


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In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.


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For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,


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‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’


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And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.


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Slaves and Masters Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ;


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not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.


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knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.


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And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.


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For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.


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Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.


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Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.


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With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.


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Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.


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Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,


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Personal Matters and Benediction So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.


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I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts.


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Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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Salutation Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:


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I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.


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It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel.


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having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.


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Paul’s Present Circumstances I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel,


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so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ;


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and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.


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the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.


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What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,


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for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in my deliverance.


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It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.


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I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;


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Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,


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Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,


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and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.


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For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—


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Imitating Christ’s Humility If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,


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make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.


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Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.


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who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,


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but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,


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Shining as Lights in the World Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;


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so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.


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It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain.


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But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you—


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Timothy and Epaphroditus I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you.


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But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.


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Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and fellow-soldier, your messenger and minister to my need;


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He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.


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I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.


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because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.


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Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. Breaking with the Past To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.


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For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh—


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even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:


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circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;


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More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ


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and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.


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I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,


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Pressing towards the Goal Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.


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Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,


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Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.


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Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.


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For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.


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Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.


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But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.


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He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.


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4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.


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Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.


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Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.


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And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


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Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


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Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.


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Acknowledgment of the Philippians’ Gift I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.


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I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.


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You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.


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I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you.


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To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.


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Paul Thanks God for the Colossians In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel


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that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.


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This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,


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For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,


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so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.


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May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully


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giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.


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He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,


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for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.


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He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.


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and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.


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he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him—


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provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.


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Paul’s Interest in the Colossians I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.


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I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,


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the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.


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To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


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It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.


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For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.


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I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,


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For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.


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Fullness of Life in Christ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,


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rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.


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See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.


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In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ;


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when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.


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And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses,


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erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.


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He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.


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Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.


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Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,


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and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.


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Warnings against False Teachers If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,


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All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.


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These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.


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The New Life in Christ So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.


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Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).


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But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.


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and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.


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In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!


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As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.


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Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.


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And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.


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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.


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And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


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Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.


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since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.


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At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,


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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow-servant in the Lord.


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I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts;


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he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.


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Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him.


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And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.


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Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills.


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Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.


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And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea.


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Salutation Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.


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The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly


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remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.


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because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake.


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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,


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For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.


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For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,


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and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.


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Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain,


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but though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.


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but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.


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As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed;


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though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.


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So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.


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You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.


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You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers.


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urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.


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We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.


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For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews,


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who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone


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by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last.


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Paul’s Desire to Visit the Thessalonians Again As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you—in person, not in heart—we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.


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For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way.


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For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?


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and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith,


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so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.


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In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know.


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For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labour had been in vain.


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Timothy’s Encouraging Report But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you.


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For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith.


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How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?


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Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.


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And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.


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And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


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A Life Pleasing to God Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.


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that no one wrongs or exploits a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.


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Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.


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Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another;


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and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more,


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to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you,


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The Coming of the Lord But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.


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For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.


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For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.


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For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.


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Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever.


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Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you.


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When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!


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But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.


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Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;


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And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.


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May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Salutation Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:


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Thanksgiving We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.


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Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.


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The Judgement at Christ’s Coming This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.


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and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels


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in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.


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These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,


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when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marvelled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.


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To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith,


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so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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The Man of Lawlessness As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters,


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not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.


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Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.


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He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.


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For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed.


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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.


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The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,


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and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.


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Chosen for Salvation But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.


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For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.


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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,


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Request for Prayer Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you,


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And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command.


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Warning against Idleness Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.


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and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.


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Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.


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Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.


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I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.


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Salutation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,


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To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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Warning against False Teachers I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine,


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and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith.


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But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.


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desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.


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This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,


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fornicators, sodomites, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching


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Gratitude for Mercy I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,


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even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,


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The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.


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But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.


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To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,


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having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith;


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among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.


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Instructions concerning Prayer First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone,


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for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.


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For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,


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For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


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I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;


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also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes,


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Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.


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Qualifications of Bishops The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.


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Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,


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He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.


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Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.


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Qualifications of Deacons Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;


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for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


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The Mystery of Our Religion I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,


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if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.


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Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.


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False Asceticism Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,


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They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.


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For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving;


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A Good Minister of Jesus Christ If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.


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for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.


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For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.


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Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.


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Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.


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Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.


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Duties towards Believers Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers,


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If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God’s sight.


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The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day;


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And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


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Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once;


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she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.


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But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry,


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Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say.


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So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.


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If any believing woman has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.


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Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching;


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for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’, and, ‘The labourer deserves to be paid.’


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As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.


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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.


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No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.


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The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgement, while the sins of others follow them there.


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Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.


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Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. False Teaching and True Riches Teach and urge these duties.


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Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness,


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is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,


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and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.


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But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.


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For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.


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The Good Fight of Faith But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.


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Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


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In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you


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which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.


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It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.


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As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.


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thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.


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Personal Instructions and Benediction Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;


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Salutation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,


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To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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Thanksgiving and Encouragement I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.


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I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.


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For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;


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for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.


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Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God,


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who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,


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but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.


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and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.


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Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


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May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain;


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—may the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus.


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and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.


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No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.


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for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.


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Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.


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A Worker Approved by God Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.


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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.


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who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some.


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But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’, and, ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.’


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In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary.


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All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.


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Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.


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correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,


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and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.


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Godlessness in the Last Days You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.


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For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,


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For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,


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As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.


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But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone.


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Paul’s Charge to Timothy Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,


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my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.


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But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,


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and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


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All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,


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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:


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proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.


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For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,


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As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.


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From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.


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for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.


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When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.


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At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!


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But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.


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The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.


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Salutation Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,


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in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Saviour,


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To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.


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Titus in Crete I left you behind in Crete for this reason, that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:


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someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.


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For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain;


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He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.


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There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;


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they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.


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It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, ‘Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.’


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That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,


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To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted.


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They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.


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Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.


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Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behaviour, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good,


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to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.


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and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.


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Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to answer back,


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not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Saviour.


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training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,


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while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.


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He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.


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Maintain Good Deeds Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,


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to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.


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For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.


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he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.


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so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


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The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.


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But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.


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Final Messages and Benediction When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


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Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, and see that they lack nothing.


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And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.


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All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.


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Salutation Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,


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I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.


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I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.


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Paul’s Plea for Onesimus For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,


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yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.


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I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel;


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but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.


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Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever,


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no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.


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I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self.


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One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,


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God Has Spoken by His Son Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,


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but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.


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He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,


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having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.


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The Son Is Superior to Angels For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?


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And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’


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But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom.


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You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’


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like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.’


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But to which of the angels has he ever said, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?


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Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?


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Warning to Pay Attention Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.


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For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,


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how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him,


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while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.


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Exaltation through Abasement Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.


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But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?


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You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honour,


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subjecting all things under their feet.’ Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,


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but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.


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It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


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For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,


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saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’


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And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again, ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’


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Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,


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Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.


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Moses a Servant, Christ a Son Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,


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Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honour than the house itself.


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Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later.


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Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.


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for forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.”


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Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.


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But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.


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Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?


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But with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?


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The Rest That God Promised Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.


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For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.


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For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘As in my anger I swore, “They shall not enter my rest”’, though his works were finished at the foundation of the world.


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For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’


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Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,


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again he sets a certain day—‘today’—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’


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Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.


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Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


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And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.


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Jesus the Great High Priest Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.


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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.


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Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


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Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.


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And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.


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So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’;


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as he says also in another place, ‘You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’


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In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.


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Warning against Falling Away About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding.


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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food;


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But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.


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The Peril of Falling Away Therefore let us go on towards perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God,


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For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,


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and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.


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Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.


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But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.


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Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation.


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For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.


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And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,


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so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.


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The Certainty of God’s Promise When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,


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Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute.


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In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath,


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so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.


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We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,


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where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.


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The Priestly Order of Melchizedek This ‘King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him’;


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and to him Abraham apportioned ‘one-tenth of everything’. His name, in the first place, means ‘king of righteousness’; next he is also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’.


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Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.


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And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham.


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But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.


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In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.


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Another Priest, Like Melchizedek Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron?


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Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.


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For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.


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one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life.


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There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual


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(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.


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but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest for ever”’—


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Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;


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Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.


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For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.


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Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.


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For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.


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Mediator of a Better Covenant Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,


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For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.


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Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.


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They offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one; for Moses, when he was about to erect the tent, was warned, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’


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But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises.


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For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one.


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God finds fault with them when he says: ‘The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;


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not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I had no concern for them, says the Lord.


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This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


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And they shall not teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord”, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.


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In speaking of ‘a new covenant’, he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear.


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The Earthly and the Heavenly Sanctuaries Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.


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For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place.


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In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;


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above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail.


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Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties;


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but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.


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By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent is still standing.


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This is a symbol of the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper,


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but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right.


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But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation),


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he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.


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For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,


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how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!


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For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.


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For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.


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For when every commandment had been told to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,


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Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.


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Christ’s Sacrifice Takes Away Sin Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these.


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For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.


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Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own;


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for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.


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so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.


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Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach.


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Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshippers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?


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Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me;


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Then I said, “See, God, I have come to do your will, O God” (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).’


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When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin-offerings’ (these are offered according to the law),


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then he added, ‘See, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.


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And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


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And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.


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But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’,


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‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’,


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A Call to Persevere Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,


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let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.


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Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.


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not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


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For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,


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Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy ‘on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’


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How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?


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For we know the one who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’


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But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,


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sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.


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For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting.


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For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.


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But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.


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The Meaning of Faith Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.


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By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.


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The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.


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By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’ For it was attested before he was taken away that ‘he had pleased God.’


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And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.


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By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.


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The Faith of Abraham By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.


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By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.


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By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.


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Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, ‘as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.’


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All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,


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If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.


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But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.


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By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,


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He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.


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By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ‘bowing in worship over the top of his staff.’


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By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.


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The Faith of Moses By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.


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choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.


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He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.


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By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible.


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By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.


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The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.


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By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.


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And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—


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who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,


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quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.


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Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.


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They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—


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of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.


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The Example of Jesus Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,


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looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.


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Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.


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And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children— ‘My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him;


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Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?


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If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.


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Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live?


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For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.


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Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.


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and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.


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Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.


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See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.


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See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal.


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You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.


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You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest,


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and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.


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(For they could not endure the order that was given, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’


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But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,


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and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,


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and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.


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See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!


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At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’


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This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.


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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;


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Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.


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Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.


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Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.


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Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’


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So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’


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Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.


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Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.


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For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.


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Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.


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Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.


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Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.


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Benediction Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,


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make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Final Exhortation and Greetings I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.


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I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you.


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Salutation James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.


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Faith and Wisdom My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,


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If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.


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But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind;


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for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.


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For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.


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Trial and Temptation Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.


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No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.


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then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.


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Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.


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In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.


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Hearing and Doing the Word You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;


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Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.


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For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;


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But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.


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If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.


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Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.


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Warning against Partiality My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?


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For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,


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and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’,


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Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?


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But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?


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You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’


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For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.


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For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.


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Faith without Works Is Dead What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?


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and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?


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But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.


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You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.


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Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, and he was called the friend of God.


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Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?


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Taming the Tongue Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.


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For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.


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Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.


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So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!


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And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.


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For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,


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With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.


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Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.


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Two Kinds of Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.


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But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.


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For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.


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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.


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Friendship with the World Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?


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You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask.


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You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.


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Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.


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Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’?


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But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’


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Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


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Warning against Judging Another Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.


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There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour?


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Boasting about Tomorrow Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.’


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Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.


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Warning to Rich Oppressors Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you.


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Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days.


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Listen! The wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.


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You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts on a day of slaughter.


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Patience in Suffering Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.


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Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!


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As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.


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Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.


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Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.


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The Prayer of Faith Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.


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Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.


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The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.


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Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.


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Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.


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you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.


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Salutation Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,


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who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.


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A Living Hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


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so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.


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Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,


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Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry,


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inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated, when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory.


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It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!


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A Call to Holy Living Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.


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If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.


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You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,


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He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.


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Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.


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Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.


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You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.


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For ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,


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The Living Stone and a Chosen People Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.


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like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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For it stands in scripture: ‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’


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To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner’,


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and ‘A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.


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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.


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Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


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Live as Servants of God Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.


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Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.


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For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme,


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The Example of Christ’s Suffering Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.


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If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval.


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For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.


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When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.


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He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.


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For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.


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Wives and Husbands Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,


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Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;


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rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.


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It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands.


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Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.


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Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honour to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.


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Suffering for Doing Right Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.


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Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.


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For ‘Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;


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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’


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But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,


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but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you;


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yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.


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For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.


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For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,


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who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water.


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And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


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who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.


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Good Stewards of God’s Grace Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin),


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You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.


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They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme.


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For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.


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The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.


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Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.


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Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.


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Suffering as a Christian Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.


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But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.


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If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.


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Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.


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For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?


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Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.


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Tending the Flock of God Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you


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to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.


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In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’


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Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.


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Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.


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And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.


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Final Greetings and Benediction Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.


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Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark.


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Salutation Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:


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The Christian’s Call and Election His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.


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Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature.


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For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge,


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For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.


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Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble.


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For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.


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Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you.


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And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.


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Eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.


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For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’


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So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.


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First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,


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because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


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False Prophets and Their Punishment But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.


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Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned.


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And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.


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For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgement;


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and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he saved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood on a world of the ungodly;


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and if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly;


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(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds that he saw and heard),


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then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement


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—especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,


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whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgement from the Lord.


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These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed,


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suffering the penalty for doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their dissipation while they feast with you.


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They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!


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They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong,


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but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.


