# verses

text:
 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


text:
And the scribe said to him, “That is true, Teacher. You have said correctly that he is one and there is no other except him.


text:
And to love him from your whole heart and from your whole understanding and from your whole strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”


text:
 And Jesus, when he saw that he had answered thoughtfully, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to put a question to him any longer.


text:
 And continuing, Jesus said while teaching in the temple courts, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is David’s son?


text:
 David himself said by the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’


text:
 David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ and how is he his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him gladly.


text:
 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and greetings in the marketplaces


text:
 who devour the houses of widows and pray lengthy prayers for the sake of appearance. These will receive more severe condemnation!”


text:
And he sat down opposite the contribution box and was observing how the crowd was putting coins into the contribution box. And many rich people were putting in many coins.


text:
 And summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all those who put offerings into the contribution box.


text:
 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in everything she had, her whole means of subsistence.”


text:
And as he was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What great stones and what wonderful buildings!”


text:
 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another stone that will not be thrown down!”


text:
And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,


text:
“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”


text:
 And when you hear about wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must happen, but the end is not yet.


text:
 For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These things are the beginning of birth pains.


text:
 “But you, watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues and will have to stand before governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them.


text:
 And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you should say, but whatever is given to you at that hour, say this. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.


text:
 And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.


text:
 And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.


text:
 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the one who reads understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!


text:
 For in those days there will be tribulation of such a kind as has not happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will happen.


text:
 And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has shortened the days.


text:
 “And at that time if anyone should say to you, “Behold, here is the Christ,’ ‘Behold, there he is,’ do not believe him !


text:
 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce signs and wonders in order to mislead, if possible, the elect.


text:
 “But in those days, after that tribulation, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light,


text:
 And then he will send out the angels, and will gather the elect together from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.


text:
 “But concerning that day or hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father.


text:
 It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority—to each one his work—and to the doorkeeper he gave orders that he should be on the alert.


text:
 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning—


text:
Now after two days it was the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, after arresting him by stealth, they could kill him.


text:
And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining for a meal, a woman came holding an alabaster flask of very costly perfumed oil of genuine nard. After breaking the alabaster flask, she poured it out on his head.


text:
But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil?


text:
For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her.


text:
 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She has done a good deed to me.


text:
 For the poor you always have with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.


text:
 And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.


text:
And Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.


text:
And when they heard this, they were delighted, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how he could betray him conveniently.


text:
And on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare, so that you can eat the Passover?”


text:
 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,


text:
 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’


text:
And the disciples went out and came into the city and found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.


text:
 And while they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you who is eating with me will betray me.”


text:
 For the Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if that man had not been born.”


text:
 And while they were eating, he took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take it, this is my body.”


text:
 Truly I say to you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine any longer until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”


text:
 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’


text:
 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that today—this night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times!”


text:
But he kept saying emphatically, “If it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And they all were saying the same thing also.


text:
 And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”


text:
And going forward a little he fell to the ground and began to pray that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from him.


text:
 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you! Take away this cup from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”


text:
 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to stay awake one hour?


text:
And again he came and found them sleeping, for they could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to reply to him.


text:
 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.


text:
And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.


text:
Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “ The one whom I kiss—he is the one. Arrest him and lead him away under guard!”


text:
But a certain one of the bystanders, drawing his sword, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me?


text:
 Every day I was with you in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me! But this has happened in order that the scriptures would be fulfilled.


text:
And a certain young man was following him, clothed only in a linen cloth on his naked body. And they attempted to seize him,


text:
And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.


text:
And Peter followed him from a distance, right inside, into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire.


text:
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, and they did not find it.


text:
“We heard him saying, ‘I will destroy this temple made by hands, and within three days I will build another not made by hands.”


text:
And the high priest stood up in the midst of them and asked Jesus, saying, “Do you not reply anything? What are these people testifying against you?”


text:
But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”


text:
 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”


text:
And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, and to say to him “Prophesy!” And the officers received him with slaps in the face.


text:
And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”


text:
But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean!” And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed.


text:
And the female slave, when she saw him, began to say again to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!”


text:
But he denied it again. And after a little while, again the bystanders began to say to Peter, “You really are one of them, because you also are a Galilean, and your accent shows it !”


text:
And he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know this man whom you are talking about!”


text:
 And immediately a rooster crowed for the second time. And Peter remembered the statement, how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times,” and throwing himself down, he began to weep.


text:
And as soon as morning came, after formulating a plan, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin, tied up Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.


text:
So Pilate asked him again, saying, “Do you not answer anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”


text:
And the one named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the rebellion.


text:
So Pilate answered and said to them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one whom you call the king of the Jews?”


text:
So Pilate, because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas. And after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over so that he could be crucified.


text:
So the soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort.


text:
And they repeatedly struck him on the head with a reed, and were spitting on him, and they knelt down and did obeisance to him.


text:
And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out so that they could crucify him.


text:
And they forced a certain man who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to carry his cross.


text:
And they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots for them to see who should take what.


text:
And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,


text:
In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes, were mocking him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he is not able to save himself!


text:
Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe! Even those who were crucified with him were reviling him.


text:
 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? ” (which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)


text:
And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Leave him alone! Let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down.”


text:
And when the centurion who was standing opposite him saw that he expired like this, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”


text:
And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome,


text:
who used to follow him and serve him when he was in Galilee, and many other women who went up with him to Jerusalem.


text:
And when it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath),


text:
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was also himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came acting courageously and went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.


text:
And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead, and summoning the centurion, asked him whether he had died already.


text:
And after purchasing a linen cloth and taking him down, he wrapped him in the linen cloth and placed him in a tomb that had been cut from the rock. And he rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb.


text:
And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchased fragrant spices so that they could go and anoint him.


text:
And very early in the morning on the first day of the week they came to the tomb after the sun had risen.


text:
And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”


text:
And as they were going into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.


text:
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has been raised, he is not here! See the place where they laid him!


text:
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.”


text:
And they went out and fled from the tomb, because trembling and amazement had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. 〚So they promptly reported all the things they had been commanded to those around Peter. And after these things, Jesus himself also sent out through them from the east even as far as the west the holy and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.〛 〚


text:
Now early on the first day of the week, after he rose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had expelled seven demons.


text:
And after these things, he appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking, while they were going out into the countryside.


text:
And later, while they were reclining at table, he appeared to the eleven. And he reprimanded their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had been raised.


text:
 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.


text:
 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will expel demons, they will speak in new tongues,


text:
 they will pick up snakes. And if they drink any deadly poison it will never hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will get well.”


text:
Then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.


text:
And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord was working together with them and confirming the message through the accompanying signs.〛


text:
Since many have attempted to compile an account concerning the events that have been fulfilled among us,


text:
it seemed best to me also— because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning—to write them down in orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,


text:
It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.


text:
And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.


text:
according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.


text:
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.


text:
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother’s womb.


text:
And he will go on before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.”


text:
And Zechariah said to the angel, “By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years !”


text:
And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.


text:
And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”


text:
And when he came out he was not able to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them, and remained unable to speak.


text:
Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,


text:
“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he has concerned himself with me, to take away my disgrace among people.”


text:
to a virgin legally promised in marriage to a man named Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary.


text:
But she was greatly perplexed at the statement, and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be.


text:
And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus.


text:
This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.


text:
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.


text:
And behold, your relative Elizabeth—she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.


text:
So Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s female slave! May it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


text:
And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


text:
And she cried out with a loud shout and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!


text:
And blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!”


text:
because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave, for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed,


text:
He has filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.


text:
And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.


text:
And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him after his father Zechariah.


text:
and he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they were all astonished.


text:
And fear came on all those who lived near them, and in all the hill country of Judea all these events were discussed.


text:
And all those who heard kept these things in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be? For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him!”


text:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and has redeemed his people,


text:
And so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,


text:
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.”


text:
And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.


text:
Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire.


text:
So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David,


text:
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


text:
And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night.


text:
And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened.


text:
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people:


text:
And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”


text:
And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!”


text:
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.


text:
And when eight days were completed so that he could be circumcised, he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


text:
And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord


text:
(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”)


text:
and to offer a sacrifice according to what was stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”


text:
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.


text:
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Lord’s Christ.


text:
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law,


text:
And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed —


text:
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,


text:
and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years) who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day.


text:
And at that same hour she approached and began to give thanks to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.


text:
And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.


text:
And the child was growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.


text:
And after the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it,


text:
but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for him among their relatives and their acquaintances,


text:
And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions.


text:
And when they saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!”


text:
 And he said to them, “ Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house of my Father?”


text:
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submitting to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.


text:
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,


text:
in the time of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.


text:
And he went into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,


text:
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!


text:
Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled, and the crooked will become straight, and the rough road will become smooth,


text:
Therefore he was saying to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


text:
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!


text:
And even now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”


text:
And he answered and said to them, “The one who has two tunics must share with the one who does not have one, and the one who has food must do likewise.”


text:
And those who served in the army were also asking him, saying, “What should we also do?” And he said to them, “Extort from no one, and do not blackmail anyone, and be content with your pay.”


text:
And while the people were waiting expectantly and all were pondering in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he might be the Christ,


text:
John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than I am is coming, of whom I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


text:
His winnowing shovel is in his hand, to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”


text:
But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife, and concerning all the evil deeds that Herod had done,


text:
Now it happened that when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized, and while he was praying, heaven was opened,


text:
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”


text:
And Jesus, when he began his ministry, was himself about thirty years old, being the son (as it was believed) of Joseph the son of Eli,


text:
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,


text:
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,


text:
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness


text:
forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was hungry.


text:
And the devil said to him, “I will give you all this domain and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I can give it to whomever I want.


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”


text:
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and had him stand on the highest point of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You are not to put to the test the Lord your God.’ ”


text:
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him went out throughout all the surrounding region.


text:
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and according to his custom he entered into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath and stood up to read.


text:
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll he found the place where it was written,


text:
 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because of which he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send out in freedom those who are oppressed,


text:
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were looking intently at him.


text:
And they were all speaking well of him, and were astonished at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth. And they were saying, “Is this man not the son of Joseph?”


text:
 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ Whatever we have heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also!”


text:
 But in truth I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three years and six months while a great famine took place over all the land.


text:
 And Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.


text:
 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was made clean except Naaman the Syrian.”


text:
And they stood up and forced him out of the town and brought him up to the edge of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.


text:
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,


text:
“Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”


text:
 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And after throwing him down in their midst, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all.


text:
And amazement came upon them all, and they began to talk with one another, saying, “What word is this? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!”


text:
And after he set out from the synagogue, he went into Simon’s house. And Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a high fever, and they asked him on behalf of her.


text:
And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she got up and began to serve them.


text:
Now as the sun was setting, all who had those who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and placing his hands on every one of them, he healed them.


text:
And demons also were coming out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Son of God!” And he rebuked them and did not permit them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.


text:
And when it was day, he departed and went to an isolated place. And the crowds were seeking him, and came to him and were trying to prevent him from departing from them.


text:
 But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.


text:
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around him and hearing the word of God, he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret,


text:
and he saw two boats there beside the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.


text:
And he got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out from the land a little. And he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat.


text:
 And when he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”


text:
And Simon answered and said, “Master, although we worked hard through the whole night, we caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.”


text:
And they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink.


text:
And when he saw it, Simon Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man !”


text:
For amazement had seized him and all those who were with him at the catch of fish that they had caught,


text:
 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were business partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid! From now on you will be catching people!”


text:
And it happened that while he was in one of the towns, there was a man covered with leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell down on his face and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean.”


text:
 And extending his hand he touched him, saying, “I am willing; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy went away from him.


text:
 And he ordered him, “Tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and bring the offering for your cleansing just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.


text:
But the report about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses.


text:
And it happened that on one of the days as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was there in order for him to heal.


text:
And behold, men came carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and place him ﻿ before him.


text:
And when they did not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the roof tiles with the stretcher into the midst of them, in front of Jesus.


text:
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”


text:
 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?


text:
 But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, ‘Get up and pick up your stretcher and go to your home.’ ”


text:
And immediately he stood up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went away to his home, glorifying God.


text:
And amazement seized them all, and they began to glorify God. And they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen wonderful things today!”


text:
 And after these things, he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me!”


text:
And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining for the meal with them.


text:
And the Pharisees and their scribes began to complain to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick.


text:
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and make prayers—likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees—but yours are eating and drinking!”


text:
 So he said to them, “You are not able to make the bridegroom’s attendants fast as long as the bridegroom is with them, are you?


text:
 But days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”


text:
 And he also told a parable to them: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, he will have torn the new also, and the old will not match the patch that is from the new.


text:
 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the wineskins, and it will be spilled and the wineskins will be destroyed.


text:
Now it happened that on a Sabbath he went through the grain fields, and his disciples were picking and eating the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you not read this, what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry—


text:
 how he entered into the house of God and took the bread of the presentation, which it is not permitted to eat (except the priests alone), and ate it and gave it to those with him?”


text:
Now it happened that on another Sabbath he entered into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there, and his right hand was withered.


text:
So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find a reason to accuse him.


text:
 But he knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand in the middle,” and he got up and stood there.


text:
 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you whether it is permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?”


text:
 And after looking around at them all, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand,” and he did, and his hand was restored.


text:
Now it happened that in these days he went away to the mountain to pray, and was spending the whole night in prayer to God.


text:
And when day came, he summoned his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostles:


text:
Simon (whom he also named Peter) and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,


text:
And he came down with them and stood on a level place, and a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast district of Tyre and Sidon,


text:
who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were cured.


text:
And the whole crowd was seeking to touch him, because power was going out from him and healing them all.


text:
 And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said, “Blessed are the poor, because yours is the kingdom of God.


text:
 Blessed are those who are hungry now, because you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, Because you will laugh.


text:
 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.


text:
 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to do the same things to the prophets.


text:
 Woe to you who are satisfied now, because you will be hungry. Woe, you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep.


text:
 Woe whenever all people speak well of you, for their fathers used to do the same things to the false prophets.


text:
 To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also.


text:
 Give to everyone who asks you, and from the one who takes away your things, do not ask for them back.


text:
 “And if you love those who love you, what kind of credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them!


text:
 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same!


text:
 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what kind of credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal amount !


text:
 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting back nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.


text:
 “And do not judge, and you will never be judged. And do not condemn, and you will never be condemned. Pardon, and you will be pardoned.


text:
 Give, and it will be given to you, a good measure—pressed down, shaken, overflowing—they will pour out into your lap. For with the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you in return.”


text:
 And he also told them a parable: “Surely a blind person cannot lead the blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?


text:
 A disciple is not superior to his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher.


text:
 And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam of wood that is in your own eye?


text:
 How are you able to say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to remove the speck that is in your eye,” while you yourself do not see the beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye!


text:
 “For there is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor on the other hand a bad tree that produces good fruit,


text:
 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn plants, nor are grapes harvested from thorn bushes.


text:
 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.


text:
 he is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood came, the river burst against that house and was not able to shake it, because it had been built well.


text:
 But the one who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, which the river burst against, and immediately it collapsed—and the collapse of that house was great!”


text:
So when he heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come and cure his slave.


text:
And when they came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy that you grant this for him,


text:
So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, and the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof.


text:
For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed.


text:
For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”


text:
 And when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!”


text:
And it happened that on the next day he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.


text:
And as he approached the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.


text:
And he came up and touched the bier, and those who were carrying it stopped. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”


text:
And fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has visited to help his people!”


text:
And his disciples reported to John about all these things. And summoning a certain two of his disciples, John


text:
And when the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ ”


text:
In that hour he healed many people of diseases and suffering and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people.


text:
 And he answered and said to them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear; the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them.


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


text:
 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces.


text:
 I tell you, there is no one greater among those born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.


text:
(And all the people, when they heard this —even the tax collectors—affirmed the righteousness of God, because they had been baptized with the baptism of John,


text:
but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, because they had not been baptized by him.)


text:
 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say, ‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not weep.’


text:
 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’


text:
Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table.


text:
And behold, a woman in the town who was a sinner, when she learned that he was dining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of perfumed oil,


text:
and standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and was wiping them with the hair of her head and was kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfumed oil.


text:
Now when the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.”


text:
 “There were two debtors who owed a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty.


text:
 When they were not able to repay him, he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”


text:
 Simon answered and said, “I suppose that it is the one to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.”


text:
 And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.


text:
 For this reason I tell you, her sins— which were many—have been forgiven, for she loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”


text:
And those who were reclining at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”


text:
And it happened that afterward also he was going about from one town and village to another preaching and proclaiming the good news concerning the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him,


text:
and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,


text:
and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod’s household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions.


text:
And while a large crowd was gathering and they were going to him from town after town, he spoke by means of a parable:


text:
 “The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, some seed fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.


text:
 And other seed fell on the rock, and when it came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture.


text:
 And other seed fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with it and choked it.


text:
 And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain.” As he said these things, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!”


text:
 And he said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’


text:
 and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.


text:
 And those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, and these do not have enough root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away.


text:
 And the seed that fell into the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear and as they go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.


text:
 But the seed on the good soil—these are the ones who, after hearing the word, hold fast to it with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.


text:
 “And no one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light.


text:
 For nothing is secret that will not become evident, and nothing hidden that will never be known and come to light.


text:
 Therefore consider how you listen, for whoever has, to him more will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away from him.”


text:
Now his mother and brothers came to him, and they were not able to meet with him because of the crowd.


text:
And it was reported to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.”


text:
 But he answered and said to them, “These are my mother and my brothers—the ones who hear the word of God and do it.


text:
 Now it happened that on one of the days both he and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they set sail,


text:
and as they were sailing, he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were being swamped and were in danger.


text:
And they came and woke him up, saying, “Master, master! We are perishing!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the billowing waves of water and they ceased, and it became calm.


text:
 And he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and were astonished, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?”


text:
And as he got out on the land, a certain man from the town met him who had demons and for a considerable time had not worn clothes and did not live in a house, but among the tombs.


text:
And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “ What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!”


text:
For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, and he was bound with chains and shackles and was guarded, and breaking the bonds he would be driven by the demon into the deserted places.)


text:
 So Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered into him.


text:
Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding there on the hill, and they implored him that he would permit them to enter into those pigs. And he permitted them.


text:
So the demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed headlong down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned.


text:
And when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the town and in the countryside.


text:
So they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting there clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid.


text:
And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.


text:
And all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they had been seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.


text:
And the man from who the demons had gone out was begging him to stay with him, but he sent him away, saying,


text:
 “Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.


text:
And behold, a man who was named Jairus came, and this man was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at the feet of Jesus and began imploring him to come to his house,


text:
because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. Now as he was going, the crowds were pressing against him.


text:
And a woman who was suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years (who, although she had spent all her assets on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone)


text:
 And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched me?” And when they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding you !”


text:
And when the woman saw that she did not escape notice, she came trembling and falling down before him. In the presence of all the people, she told for what reason she had touched him, and that she was healed immediately.


text:
While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead! Trouble the Teacher no longer!”


text:
 But Jesus, when he heard this, replied to him, “Do not be afraid! Only believe, and she will be healed.”


text:
Now when he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter and John and James and the father and mother of the child.


text:
 And they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep! For she is not dead, but is sleeping.”


text:
And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately, and he ordered something to be given to her to eat.


text:
And summoning the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases,


text:
 And he said to them, “Take along nothing for the journey—neither a staff, nor a traveler’s bag, nor bread, nor money, nor to have two tunics apiece.


text:
 And as for all those who do not welcome you— when you depart from that town, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”


text:
So they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.


text:
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John has been raised from the dead,


text:
And Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he was wanting to see him.


text:
And when they returned, the apostles described to him all that they had done. And he took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.


text:
But when the crowds found out, they followed him, and welcoming them, he began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he cured those who had need of healing.


text:
Now the day began to be far spent, and the twelve came up and said to him, “Send away the crowd so that they can go into the surrounding villages and farms to obtain lodging and find provisions, because we are here in a desolate place.


text:
 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “ We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and purchase food for all these people.”


text:
 (For there were about five thousand men.) So he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”


text:
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them and began giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.


text:
And they all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up by them—twelve baskets of broken pieces.


text:
 And it happened that while he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”


text:
And they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but others, Elijah, and others, that one of the ancient prophets has risen.”


text:
 And he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”


text:
 saying, “It is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised on the third day.


text:
 And he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.


text:
 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me, this person will save it.


text:
 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of this person when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.


text:
 But I tell you truly, there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God.”


text:
Now it happened that about eight days after these words, he took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.


text:
And as he was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and his clothing became white, gleaming like lightning.


text:
who appeared in glory and were speaking about his departure which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.


text:
Now Peter and those with him were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him.


text:
And it happened that as they were going away from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he was saying.


text:
And while he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.


text:
And after the voice had occurred, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.


text:
Now it happened that on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.


text:
And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look with concern on my son, because he is my only son !


text:
And behold, a spirit seizes him and suddenly he screams, and it convulses him with foam and rarely withdraws from him, battering him severely.


text:
 So Jesus answered and said, “O unbelieving and perverted generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”


text:
And while he was still approaching, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.


text:
And they were all astounded at the impressiveness of God. But while they were all marveling at all the things that he was doing, he said to his disciples,


text:
 “ You take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”


text:
But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they could not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.


text:
But Jesus, because he knew the thoughts of their hearts, took hold of a child and had him stand beside him


text:
 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all—this one is great.”


text:
And John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us.”


text:
Now it happened that when the days were approaching for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.


text:
And he sent messengers before him, and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans in order to prepare for him.


text:
Now when the disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”


text:
 But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead! But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”


text:
And another person also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say farewell to those in my house.”


text:
 But Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God!”


text:
And after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two before him into every town and place where he was about to go.


text:
 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.


text:
 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not move from house to house.


text:
 “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you! Nevertheless know this: that the kingdom of God has come near!”


text:
 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes!


text:
 The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. But the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”


text:
And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”


text:
 Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you.


text:
 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.”


text:
 At that same time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to young children. Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you.


text:
 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.”


text:
 And turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see!


text:
 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”


text:
And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?”


text:
And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”


text:
 And Jesus replied and said, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him. After inflicting blows on him, they went away, leaving him half dead.


text:
 Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.


text:
 And in the same way also a Levite, when he came down to the place and saw him, passed by on the opposite side.


text:
 And he came up and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.


text:
 And on the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them ﻿ to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return.


text:
Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha welcomed him.


text:
And she had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus and was listening to his teaching.


text:
But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached and said, “Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!”


text:
 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things !


text:
 But few things are necessary, or only one thing, for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”


text:
And it happened that while he was in a certain place praying, when he stopped a certain one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”


text:
 And he said to them, “When you pray, say, “Father, may your name be treated as holy. May your kingdom come.


text:
 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.”


text:
 And he said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,


text:
 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I do not have anything to set before him.’


text:
 And that one will answer from inside and say, ‘Do not cause me trouble! The door has already been shut and my children are with me in bed! I am not able to get up to give you anything.’


text:
 I tell you, even if he does not give him anything after he gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.


text:
 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you.


text:
 But what father from among you, if his son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake?


text:
 Therefore if you, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”


text:
And he was expelling a mute demon. Now it happened that when the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished.


text:
 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.


text:
 So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I expel demons by Beelzebul.


text:
 But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel them? For this reason they will be your judges!


text:
 But when a stronger man attacks him and conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder.


text:
 “Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it. It says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’


text:
 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first!”


text:
Now it happened that as he said these things, a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”


text:
 And as the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation! It demands a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah!


text:
 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.


text:
 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here!


text:
 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light.


text:
 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body is dark also.


text:
 If therefore your whole body is full of light, not having any part dark, it will be completely full of light, as when the lamp with its light gives light to you.”


text:
And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him, and he went in and reclined at table.


text:
 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness.


text:
 “But woe to you, Pharisees, because you pay a tenth of mint and rue and every garden herb, and neglect justice and love for God! But it was necessary to do these things without neglecting those things also.


text:
 Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces!


text:
 Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over them do not know it !


text:
And one of the legal experts answered and said to him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also!”


text:
 So he said, “Woe to you also, legal experts, because you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers!


text:
 As a result you are witnesses, and you approve of the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them and you build their tombs !


text:
 For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’


text:
 so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,


text:
 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation!


text:
 Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!”


text:
And when he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many things,


text:
 During this time when a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.


text:
 Therefore everything that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.


text:
 “And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do.


text:
 But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you into hell! Yes, I tell you, fear this one!


text:
 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


text:
 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God,


text:
 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.


text:
 But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say,


text:
Now someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”


text:
 And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”


text:
 And he told a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.


text:
 And he reasoned to himself, saying, ‘What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.’


text:
 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions.


text:
 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!” ’


text:
 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your life is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’


text:
 And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, or for your body, what you will wear.


text:
 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?


text:
 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.


text:
 But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for you, you of little faith?


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


text:
 Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven where thief does not approach or moth destroy.


text:
 And you, be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes back and knocks, they can open the door for him immediately.


text:
 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by and serve them.


text:
 Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find them like this, blessed are they!


text:
 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.


text:
 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.”


text:
 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his servants to give them their food allowance at the right time?


text:
 But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to return,’ and he begins to beat the male slaves and the female slaves and to eat and drink and get drunk,


text:
 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the unbelievers.


text:
 And that slave who knew the will of his master and did not prepare or do according to his will will be given a severe beating.


text:
 But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows will be given a light beating. And from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be demanded, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will ask him for even more.


text:
 For from now on there will be five in one household, divided three against two and two against three.


text:
 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”


text:
 And he also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens.


text:
 Hypocrites! You know how to evaluate the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to evaluate this present time?


text:
 For as you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to come to a settlement with him on the way, so that he will not drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison.


text:
Now at the same time some had come to tell him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


text:
 And he answered and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were sinners worse than all the Galileans, because they suffered these things?


text:
 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were sinners worse than all the people who live in Jerusalem?


text:
 And he told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.


text:
 So he said to the gardener, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and did not find any. Cut it down! Why should it even exhaust the soil?’


text:
 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put manure on it.


text:
 And if indeed it produces fruit in the coming year, so much the better, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”


text:
And behold, a woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years, and she was bent over and not able to straighten herself up completely.


text:
 And when he saw her, Jesus summoned her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability!”


text:
But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and said to the crowd, “There are six days on which it is necessary to work. Therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the day of the Sabbath!”


text:
 But the Lord answered and said to him, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you untie his ox or his donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it away to water it?


text:
 And this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound eighteen long years—is it not necessary that she be released from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?”


text:
And when he said these things, all those who opposed him were humiliated, and the whole crowd was rejoicing at all the splendid things that were being done by him.


text:
 It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”


text:
 It is like yeast that a woman took and hid in three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”


text:
 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to,


text:
 when once the master of the house has gotten up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ And he will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from!’


text:
 And he will reply, saying to you, ‘I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you evildoers !’


text:
 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside!


text:
 And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.


text:
At that same hour some Pharisees came up and said to him, “Go out and depart from here, because Herod wants to kill you!”


text:
 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I am expelling demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’


text:
 Nevertheless, it is necessary for me to be on the way today and tomorrow and on the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.


text:
 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you were not willing!


text:
 Behold, your house has been left to you! And I tell you, you will never see me until the time will come when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”


text:
And it happened that when he came to the house of a certain one of the leaders of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat a meal, they were watching him closely.


text:
 And Jesus answered and said to the legal experts and Pharisees, saying, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”


text:
 And he said to them, “Who among you, if your son or your ox falls into a well on the day of the Sabbath, will not immediately pull him out?”


text:
Now he told a parable to those who had been invited when he noticed how they were choosing for themselves the places of honor, saying to them,


text:
 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you has been invited by him,


text:
 and the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give the place to this person,’ and then with shame you will begin to take the last place.


text:
 But when you are invited, go and recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then it will be an honor to you in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you.


text:
 And he also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you.


text:
 and you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you. For it will be paid back to you at the resurrection of the righteous.”


text:
Now when one of those reclining at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”


text:
 And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, ‘Come, because now it is ready!’


text:
 And they all alike began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field, and I must go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.’


text:
 And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.’


text:
 And the slave came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!’


text:
 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and press them to come in, so that my house will be filled!


text:
 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.


text:
 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?


text:
 Otherwise after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who see it will begin to ridicule him,


text:
 Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand.


text:
 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.


text:
 It is usable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!”


text:
And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”


text:
 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it?


text:
 And when he returns to his home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’


text:
 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.


text:
 Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?


text:
 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I had lost!’


text:
 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”


text:
 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So he divided his assets between them.


text:
 And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by living wastefully.


text:
 And after he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.


text:
 And he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs.


text:
 And he was longing to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.


text:
 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of food, and I am dying here from hunger!


text:
 I will set out and go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight !


text:
 And he set out and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.


text:
 And his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight ! I am no longer worthy to be called your son!’


text:
 But his father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!


text:
 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.


text:
 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.


text:
 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has gotten him back healthy.’


text:
 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!


text:
 But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’


text:
 But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’ ”


text:
 And he also said to the disciples, “A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions.


text:
 And he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.’


text:
 And the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.


text:
 I know what I should do, so that when I am removed from the management they will welcome me into their homes!’


text:
 And he summoned each one of his own master’s debtors and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’


text:
 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and sit down quickly and write fifty.’


text:
 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and write eighty.’


text:
 And the master praised the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder than the sons of light with regard to their own generation.


text:
 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.


text:
 “The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.


text:
 If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?


text:
 No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.”


text:
 And he said to them, “You are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts! For what is considered exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.


text:
 “The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently pressed into it.


text:
 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the law to become invalid.


text:
 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.


text:
 “Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day.


text:
 and was longing to be filled with what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and licked his sores.


text:
 Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.


text:
 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he was in torment and saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus at his side.


text:
 And he called out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering pain in this flame!’


text:
 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain.


text:
 And in addition to all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you, so that those who want to cross over from here to you are not able to do so, nor can they cross over from there to us.’


text:
 for I have five brothers, so that he could warn them, in order that they also should not come to this place of torment!’


text:
 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.’ ”


text:
 And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible for causes for stumbling not to come, but woe to him through whom they come!


text:
 It would be better for him if a millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea than that he causes one of these little ones to sin.


text:
 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”


text:
 So the Lord said, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.


text:
 “And which of you who has a slave plowing or shepherding sheep who comes in from the field will say to him, ‘Come here at once and recline at the table’?


text:
 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something that I may eat, and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and after these things you will eat and drink.’


text:
 Thus you also, when you have done all the things you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done what we were obligated to do.’ ”


text:
And it happened that while traveling toward Jerusalem, he was passing through the region between Samaria and Galilee.


text:
 And when he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it happened that as they were going, they were cleansed.


text:
 Now when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with things that can be observed,


text:
 nor will they say, ‘Behold, here it is !’ or ‘There!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”


text:
 And he said to the disciples, “Days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.


text:
 For just as the lightning shines forth, flashing from one place under heaven to another place under heaven, so the Son of Man will be in his day.


text:
 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.


text:
 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building.


text:
 But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all.


text:
 On that day, whoever is on the housetop and his goods are in the house must not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back


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


text:
 And they answered and said to him, “Where, Lord?” So he said to them, “Where the dead body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”


text:
 saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people.


text:
 And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’


text:
 And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people,


text:
 yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her coming back!’ ”


text:
 And will not God surely see to it that justice is done to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them?


text:
 I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them soon! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”


text:
And he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on everyone else:


text:
 The Pharisee stood and prayed these things with reference to himself: ‘God, I give thanks to you that I am not like other people—swindlers, unrighteous people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector!


text:
 But the tax collector, standing far away, did not want even to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’


text:
 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”


text:
Now they were bringing even their babies to him so that he could touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.


text:
 But Jesus called them to himself, saying, “Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.


text:
 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ”


text:
 And when he heard this, Jesus said to him, “ You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.”


text:
 And Jesus took notice of him and said, “How difficult it is for those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!


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


text:
 And he said to them, “Truly I say to you that there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the kingdom of God,


text:
 And taking aside the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets with reference to the Son of Man will be accomplished.


text:
And they understood none of these things, and this saying was concealed from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.


text:
Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting on the side of the road begging.


text:
And those who were in front rebuked him, that he should be silent, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”


text:
And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.


text:
And he was seeking to see Jesus—who he was—and he was not able to as a result of the crowd, because he was short in stature.


text:
And he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree so that he could see him, because he was going to go through that way.


text:
 And when he came to the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because it is necessary for me to stay at your house today!”


text:
And when they saw it, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to find lodging with a man who is a sinner!”


text:
And Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am paying it back four times as much !”


text:
 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.


text:
Now while they were listening to these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.


text:
 Therefore he said, “A certain nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.


text:
 And summoning ten of his own slaves, he gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business until I come back.’


text:
 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’


text:
 And it happened that when he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned to him, so that he could know what they had gained by trading.


text:
 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, have authority over ten cities.’


text:
 And another came, saying, ‘Sir, behold your mina, which I had put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth.


text:
 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man—you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow!’


text:
 He said to him, ‘ By your own words I will judge you, wicked slave! You knew that I am a severe man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.


text:
 And why did you not give my money to the bank, and I, when I returned, would have collected it with interest?’


text:
 And to the bystanders he said, ‘Take away from him the mina and give it to the one who has the ten minas!’


text:
 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.


text:
 But these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!’ ”


text:
And it happened that when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, to the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,


text:
 saying, ‘Go into the village in front of you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no person has ever sat, and untie it and bring it.


text:
Now as he was drawing near by this time to the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen,


text:
saying, “Blessed is the king, the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”


text:
 saying, “If you had known on this day—even you—the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.


text:
 For days will come upon you and your enemies will put up an embankment against you, and will surround you and press you hard from all directions.


text:
 And they will raze you to the ground, you and your children within you, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”


text:
 saying to them, “It is written, ‘And my house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a cave of robbers!”


text:
And he was teaching every day in the temple courts, and the chief priests and the scribes and the most prominent men of the people were seeking to destroy him.


text:
And they did not find anything they could do, because all the people were paying close attention to what they were hearing from him.


text:
And it happened that on one of the days while he was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached together with the elders


text:
and said, saying to him, “Tell us, by what authority you are doing these things, or who is the one who gave you this authority?


text:
And they discussed this with one another, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’


text:
But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”


text:
 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.


text:
 And at the proper time he sent a slave to the tenant farmers, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers sent him away empty-handed after beating him.


text:
 And he proceeded to send another slave, but they beat and dishonored that one also, and sent him away empty-handed.


text:
 So the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’


text:
 But when the tenant farmers saw him, they began to reason with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance will become ours!’


text:
 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?


text:
 He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard this, they said, “ May this never happen!”


text:
 But he looked intently at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the cornerstone.’


text:
 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls—it will crush him!”


text:
And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay their hands on him at that same hour, and they were afraid of the people, for they knew that he had told this parable with reference to them.


text:
And they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor.


text:
And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality, but teach the way of God in truth.


text:
 “Show me a denarius! Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they answered and said, “Caesar’s.”


text:
 So he said to them, “Well then, give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!”


text:
And they were not able to catch him ﻿ in a statement in the sight of the people, and astonished at his answer, they became silent.


text:
saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us if someone’s brother dies having a wife, and this man is childless, that his brother should take the wife and father descendants for his brother.


text:
 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,


text:
 for they are not even able to die any longer, because they are like the angels and are sons of God, because they are sons of the resurrection.


text:
 But that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed in the passage about the bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.


text:
 “Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,


text:
 For these all put gifts into the offering out of their abundance, but this woman out of her poverty put in all the means of subsistence that she had.”


text:
And while some were speaking about the temple, that it was adorned with precious stones and votive offerings, he said,


text:
 “ As for these things that you see—days will come in which not one stone will be left on another stone that will not be thrown down!”


text:
And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”


text:
 And he said, Watch out that you are not deceived! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them!


text:
 And when you hear about wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not be at once.”


text:
 There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places. There will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.


text:
 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.


text:
 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your opponents will not be able to resist or contradict.


text:
 And you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put to death some of you.


text:
 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside it must depart, and those in the fields must not enter into it,


text:
 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people,


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


text:
 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity from the noise of the sea and its surging,


text:
 people fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


text:
 But when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!”


text:
 When they put out foliage, now you see for yourselves and know that by this time the summer is near.


text:
 “But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly


text:
 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”


text:
So throughout the days he was teaching in the temple courts, and throughout the nights he was going out and spending the night on the hill that is called the Mount of Olives.


text:
And all the people were getting up very early in the morning to come to him in the temple courts to listen to him.


text:
And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could destroy him, because they were afraid of the people.


text:
And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he could betray him to them.


text:
And he agreed, and began looking for a favorable opportunity to betray him to them apart from the crowd.


text:
And the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed.


text:
 And he said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.


text:
 And you will say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’


text:
 And he took in hand a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.


text:
 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”


text:
 And he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


text:
 And in the same way the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.


text:
 For the Son of Man is going according to what has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”


text:
 So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors.


text:
 But you are not to be like this! But the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.


text:
 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am in your midst as the one who serves.


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


text:
 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”


text:
 And he said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me!”


text:
 And he said to them, “When I sent you out without a money bag and a traveler’s bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” And they said, “Nothing.”


text:
 And he said to them, “But now the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And the one who does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one.


text:
 For I tell you that this that is written must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was counted with the criminals.’ For indeed, what is written about me is being fulfilled.”


text:
And he went away and proceeded, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him.


text:
 saying, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” 〚


text:
And being in anguish, he began praying more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.〛


text:
 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not enter into temptation!”


text:
While he was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the one named Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him.


text:
And when those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”


text:
 And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber?


text:
 Every day when I was with you in the temple courts, you did not stretch out your hands against me! But this is your hour and the domain of darkness!”


text:
And they arrested him and led him away and brought him into the house of the high priest. But Peter was following at a distance.


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


text:
And a certain female slave, seeing him sitting in the light and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him!”


text:
And after a short time another person saw him and said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”


text:
And after about one hour had passed, someone else was insisting, saying, “In truth this man also was with him, because he is also a Galilean!”


text:
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.


text:
 And the Lord turned around and looked intently at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”


text:
and after blindfolding him they repeatedly asked him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?”


text:
And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin,


text:
 saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us!” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will never believe,


text:
And they said, “Why do we have need of further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his mouth!”


text:
And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying he himself is Christ, a king!”


text:
 And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and said, “You say so.”


text:
So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.”


text:
But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”


text:
And when he found out that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.


text:
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him.


text:
And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and after mocking him and dressing him in glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.


text:
And both Herod and Pilate became friends with one another on that same day, for they had previously been enemies of one another.


text:
and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, when I examined him before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which you are making against him.


text:
But neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him.


text:
(who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder).


text:
So he said to them a third time, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death in him. Therefore I will punish him and release him.”


text:
And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.


text:
And as they led him away, they seized Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and placed the cross on him, to carry it behind Jesus.


text:
And a great crowd of the people were following him, and of women who were mourning and lamenting him.


text:
 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children!


text:
 For behold, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that did not give birth, and the breasts that did not nurse!’


text:
And when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” there they crucified him, and the criminals, the one on his right and the other on his left.


text:
 〚But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”〛 And they cast lots to divide his clothes.


text:
And the people stood there watching, but the rulers also ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this man is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!”


text:
And one of the criminals who were hanged there reviled him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself—and us!”


text:
But the other answered and rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, because you are undergoing the same condemnation?


text:
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong!”


text:
And by this time it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour


text:
 And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit!” And after he said this, he expired.


text:
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began to praise God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!”


text:
And all the crowds that had come together for this spectacle, when they saw the things that had happened, returned home beating their breasts.


text:
And all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee who saw these things, stood at a distance.


text:
(this man was not consenting to their plan and deed), from Arimathea, a Judean town, who was looking forward to the kingdom of God.


text:
And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed.


text:
And the women who had been accompanying him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was placed.


text:
And they returned and prepared fragrant spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.


text:
Now on the first day of the week, at very early dawn, they came back to the tomb bringing the fragrant spices which they had prepared.


text:
And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men in gleaming clothing stood near them.


text:
And as they were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?


text:
 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men who are sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise?”


text:
and when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.


text:
Now Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the others with them were telling these things to the apostles.


text:
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and bending over to look, he saw only the strips of linen cloth, and he went away to his home wondering what had happened.


text:
And behold, on that same day, two of them were traveling to a village named Emmaus that was sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem,


text:
And it happened that while they were conversing, and discussing, Jesus himself also approached and began to go along with them,


text:
 And he said to them, “What are these matters that you are discussing with one another as you are walking along?” And they stood still, looking sad.


text:
And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to him, “ Are you the only one living near Jerusalem and not knowing the things that have happened in it in these days?”


text:
 And he said to them, “What things?” So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people,


text:
But we were hoping that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. But in addition to all these things, this is the third day since these things took place.


text:
and when they did not find his body, they came back saying they had seen even a vision of angels, who said that he was alive!


text:
And some of those with us went out to the tomb and found it like this, just as the women had also said, but him they did not see.”


text:
And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures.


text:
And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he was going farther.


text:
And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent.” And he went in to stay with them.


text:
And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks, and after breaking it, he gave it to them.


text:
And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?”


text:
And they got up that same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those with them assembled,


text:
And they began describing what happened on the road, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.


text:
 Look at my hands and my feet, that I am I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”


text:
 And while they were still disbelieving because of joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat here?”


text:
 And he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”


text:
 and said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day,


text:
 and repentance and the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


text:
 And behold, I am sending out what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”


text:
All things came into being through him, and apart from him not one thing came into being that has come into being.


text:
This one came for a witness, in order that he could testify about the light, so that all would believe through him.


text:
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, and the world did not recognize him.


text:
But as many as received him—to those who believe in his name—he gave to them authority to become children of God,


text:
And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.


text:
John testified about him and cried out, saying, “This one was he about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me is ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”


text:
No one has seen God at any time; the one and only, God, the one who is in the bosom of the Father—that one has made him known.


text:
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they could ask him, “Who are you?”


text:
And they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No!”


text:
Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”


text:
He said, “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.”


text:
And they asked him and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”


text:
On the next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!


text:
This one is the one about whom I said, ‘After me is coming a man who is ahead of me, because he existed before me.’


text:
And I did not know him, but in order that he could be revealed to Israel, because of this I came baptizing with water.”


text:
And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon him.


text:
And I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water, that one said to me, ‘ The one upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him—this one is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’


text:
And Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means when translated “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”


text:
He said to them, “Come and you will see!” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day (it was about the tenth hour).


text:
This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated “Christ”).


text:
 He brought him to Jesus. Looking at him, Jesus said, “You are Simon the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is interpreted “Peter”).


text:
 On the next day he wanted to depart for Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”


text:
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets wrote about —Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth!”


text:
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see!”


text:
 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Look! A true Israelite in whom is no deceit!”


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


text:
 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”


text:
 And he said to him, “Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”


text:
 And Jesus said to her, “What does your concern have to do with me, woman? My hour has not yet come.”


text:
Now six stone water jars were set there, in accordance with the ceremonial cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three measures.


text:
Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from—but the servants who had drawn the water knew—the head steward summoned the bridegroom


text:
and said to him, “ Everyone serves the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”


text:
This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.


text:
After this he went down to Capernaum, and his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days.


text:
And he found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated.


text:
And he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, both the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.


text:
 And to the ones selling the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace !”


text:
So the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us, because you are doing these things?”


text:
Then the Jews said, “This temple has been under construction forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”


text:
So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.


text:
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name because they saw his signs which he was doing.


text:
This man came to him at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him.”


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


text:
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother’s womb for the second time and be born, can he?”


text:
 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.


text:
 The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”


text:
 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things?


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony!


text:
 If I tell you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?


text:
 And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, thus it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up,


text:
 For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.


text:
 For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.


text:
 The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.


text:
 And this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.


text:
 For everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed.


text:
 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, in order that his deeds may be revealed, that they are done in God.


text:
After these things Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing.


text:
Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and they were coming and were being baptized.


text:
And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, about whom you testified—look, this one is baptizing, and all are coming to him!”


text:
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.


text:
The one who comes from above is over all. The one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth; the one who comes from heaven is over all.


text:
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life—but the wrath of God remains on him.


text:
Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John


text:
Now he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.


text:
And Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, because he had become tired from the journey, simply sat down at the well. It was about the sixth hour.


text:
So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How do you, being a Jew, ask from me water to drink, since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)


text:
 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”


text:
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep! From where then do you get this living water?


text:
You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, and his sons and his livestock?”


text:
 But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”


text:
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or come here to draw water !”


text:
 The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have said rightly, ‘I do not have a husband,’


text:
 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband; this you have said truthfully!”


text:
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship.”


text:
 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, that an hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.


text:
 But an hour is coming—and now is here —when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.


text:
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever that one comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”


text:
And at this point his disciples came, and they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you seek?” or “Why are you speaking with her?”


text:
 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.


text:
 The one who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, in order that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together.


text:
 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work.”


text:
Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything that I have done.”


text:
So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days.


text:
And they were saying to the woman, “No longer because of what you said do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!”


text:
So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had also come to the feast).


text:
Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was at Capernaum a certain royal official whose son was sick.


text:
This man, when he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.


text:
 Jesus said to him, “Go, your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed.


text:
So he inquired from them the hour at which he had gotten better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”


text:
 So the father knew that it was that same hour at which Jesus said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed, and his whole household.


text:
Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool called in Aramaic Bethzatha, which has five porticoes.


text:
 Jesus, when he saw this one lying there and knew that he had been sick a long time already, said to him, “Do you want to become well?”


text:
The one who was sick answered him, “Sir, I do not have anyone that, whenever the water is stirred up, could put me into the pool. But while I am coming, another goes down before me.”


text:
And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk. (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.)


text:
So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!”


text:
 But he answered them, “The one who made me well—that one said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk!’ ”


text:
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn while a crowd was in the place.


text:
 After these things Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well! Sin no longer, lest something worse happen to you.”


text:
And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.


text:
So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.


text:
 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise.


text:
 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing. And greater works than these he will show him, so that you will be astonished.


text:
 For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes.


text:
 in order that all people will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.


text:
 “Truly, truly I say to you, that an hour is coming—and now is here —when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear will live.


text:
 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.


text:
 “Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice


text:
 and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment.


text:
 I am able to do nothing from myself. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.


text:
 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.


text:
 (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these things in order that you may be saved.)


text:
 That one was the lamp which was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.


text:
 “But I have a testimony greater than John’s, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them—the very works which I am doing— these testify about me, that the Father has sent me.


text:
 And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form.


text:
 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe.


text:
 You search the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me.


text:
 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If another should come in his own name, you would accept that one!


text:
 How are you able to believe, if you accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God?


text:
 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father! The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope!


text:
And a large crowd was following him because they were observing the signs that he was doing on those who were sick.


text:
 Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people can eat?”


text:
Philip replied to him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for them, in order that each one could receive a little.”


text:
 Jesus said, “Make the people recline.” (Now there was a lot of grass in the place.) So the men reclined, approximately five thousand in number.


text:
Then Jesus took the bread, and after he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were reclining—likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted.


text:
 And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather the remaining fragments so that nothing is lost.”


text:
So they gathered them, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.


text:
Now when the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, “This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!”


text:
Then Jesus, because he knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make him king, withdrew again up the mountain by himself alone.


text:
And getting into a boat, they began to go to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.


text:
Then when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid.


text:
So they were wanting to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land to which they were going.


text:
On the next day, the crowd that was on the other side of the sea saw that other boats were not there (except one), and that Jesus had not entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had departed alone.


text:
Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.


text:
So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.


text:
And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”


text:
 Jesus replied to them and said, “Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied!


text:
 Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one.”


text:
 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom that one sent.”


text:
So they said to him, “Then what sign will you perform, so that we can see it and believe you? What will you do?


text:
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’


text:
 Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven!


text:
 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty again.


text:
 Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never throw out,


text:
 because I have come down from heaven not that I should do my will, but the will of the one who sent me.


text:
 Now this is the will of the one who sent me: that everyone whom he has given me, I would not lose any of them, but raise them up on the last day.


text:
 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks at the Son and believes in him would have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”


text:
 Now the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,”


text:
 and they were saying, “Is this one not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”


text:
 No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.


text:
 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears from the Father and learns comes to me.


text:
 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”


text:
 Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves!


text:
 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.


text:
 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who eats me—that one will live because of me.


text:
 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”


text:
 But Jesus, because he knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended?


text:
 The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.


text:
 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)


text:
 And he said, “Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father.”


text:
(Now he was speaking about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, because this one—one of the twelve—was going to betray him.)


text:
And after these things Jesus was going about in Galilee. For he did not want to go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.


text:
So his brothers said to him, “Depart from here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also can see your works that you are doing.


text:
For no one does anything in secret and yet he himself desires to be publicly recognized. If you are doing these things, reveal yourself to the world!”


text:
 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it, that its deeds are evil.


text:
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not openly, but (as it were) in secret.


text:
And there was a lot of grumbling concerning him among the crowds; some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others were saying, “No, but he deceives the crowd.”


text:
Then the Jews were astonished, saying, “How does this man possess knowledge, because he has not been taught?”


text:
 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or I am speaking from myself.


text:
 The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory. But the one who seeks the glory of the one who sent him—this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.


text:
 Because of this Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.


text:
 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses would not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole man well on the Sabbath?


text:
Then some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem began to say, “Is this not the one whom they are seeking to kill?


text:
And behold, he is speaking openly and they are saying nothing to him! Can it be that the rulers truly know that this man is the Christ?


text:
Yet we know where this man is from, but the Christ, whenever he comes—no one knows where he is from!”


text:
 Then Jesus cried out in the temple courts, teaching and saying, “You both know me and you know where I am from! And I have not come from myself, but the one who sent me is true, whom you do not know.


text:
So they were seeking to seize him, and no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.


text:
But from the crowd many believed in him and were saying, “Whenever the Christ comes, he will not perform more signs than this man has done, will he?”


text:
The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers in order to take him into custody .


text:
So the Jews said to one another, “Where is this one going to go, that we will not find him? He is not going to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he?


text:
 What is this saying that he said, ‘You will seek me and will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come’?”


text:
 Now on the last day of the feast—the great day —Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let him drink,


text:
 the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”


text:
Now he said this concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. For the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)


text:
Then, when they heard these words, some from the crowd began to say, “This man is truly the Prophet!”


text:
Others were saying, “This man is the Christ!” But others were saying, “No, for the Christ does not come from Galilee, does he?


text:
Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”


text:
So the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees. And they said to them, “ Why did you not bring him?”


text:
“Our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”


text:
They answered and said to him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Investigate and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee!” 〚


text:
Now early in the morning he came again to the temple courts. And all the people were coming, and he sat down and began to teach them.


text:
Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And standing her in their midst,


text:
they said to him, testing him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery!


text:
(Now they were saying this to test him, so that they would have an occasion to bring charges against him.) But Jesus, bending down, began to write with his finger on the ground, taking no notice.


text:
 And when they persisted in asking him, straightening up he said to them, “The one of you without sin, let him throw the first stone at her!”


text:
Now when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, they began to depart, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone—and the woman who was in their midst.


text:
 So Jesus, straightening up and seeing no one except the woman, said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours? Does no one condemn you?”


text:
 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”


text:
 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify concerning myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I have come from or where I am going.


text:
 But even if I judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me.


text:
 So they were saying to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus replied, “You know neither me nor my Father! If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”


text:
He spoke these words by the treasury while teaching in the temple courts, and no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.


text:
 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me and will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come!”


text:
 Then the Jews began to say, “Perhaps he will kill himself, because he is saying, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ ”


text:
 And he said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from this world.


text:
 Thus I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”


text:
 So they began to say to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “ What I have been saying to you from the beginning.


text:
 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but the one who sent me is true, and the things which I heard from him, these things I say to the world.”


text:
 Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will recognize that I am he, and I do nothing from myself, but just as the Father taught me, I say these things.


text:
 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”


text:
 Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples,


text:
 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, ‘You will become free’?”


text:
 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.


text:
 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you.


text:
 I speak the things that I have seen with the Father; so also you do the things that you have heard from the Father.”


text:
 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus said to them, “If you are children of Abraham, do the deeds of Abraham!


text:
 But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who spoke to you the truth which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do.


text:
 You are doing the deeds of your father!” They said to him, “We were not born from sexual immorality! We have one father, God!”


text:
 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me.


text:
 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.


text:
 The one who is from God listens to the words of God. Because of this you do not listen—because you are not of God.”


text:
The Jews answered and said to him, “Do we not correctly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”


text:
 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death forever.’


text:
You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself to be?”


text:
 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’


text:
 And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you! But I know him and I keep his word.


text:
Then they picked up stones in order to throw them at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple courts.


text:
And his disciples asked him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?”


text:
 Jesus replied, “Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it happened so that the works of God could be revealed in him.


text:
 It is necessary for us to do the deeds of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work!


text:
When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes.


text:
 And he said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated “sent”). So he went and washed and came back seeing.


text:
Then the neighbors and those who saw him previously (because he was a beggar) began to say, “Is this man not the one who used to sit and beg?”


text:
Others were saying, “It is this man”; others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” That one was saying, “I am he !”


text:
 He replied, “The man who is called Jesus made clay and smeared it on my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash!’ So I went, and I washed, and I received sight.”


text:
So the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”


text:
So some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath!” Others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.


text:
So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”


text:
So the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received sight, until they summoned the parents of the one who received sight.


text:
And they asked them, saying, “Is this man your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?”


text:
But how he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him! He is a mature adult; he will speak for himself!”


text:
(His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.


text:
So they summoned the man who had been blind for the second time and said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner!”


text:
Then that man replied, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I know—that although I was blind, now I see!”


text:
He replied to them, “I told you already and you did not listen! Why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become his disciples also, do you?”


text:
The man answered and said to them, “For the remarkable thing is this, that you do not know where he is from, and he opened my eyes!


text:
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone is devout and does his will, he listens to this one.


text:
They answered and said to him, “You were born completely in sin, and are you attempting to teach us?” And they threw him out.


text:
 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”


text:
 And Jesus said,〛 “For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind!”


text:
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and said to him, “We are not also blind, are we?”


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


text:
 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up at some other place—that one is a thief and a robber.


text:
 For this one the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


text:
 Whenever he sends out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.


text:
 And they will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”


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


text:
 The thief comes only so that he can steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.


text:
 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf approaching and abandons the sheep and runs away—and the wolf seizes them and scatters them —


text:
 And I have other sheep which are not from this fold. I must bring these also, and they will hear my voice, and they will become one flock—one shepherd.


text:
 Because of this the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take possession of it again.


text:
 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take possession of it again. This commandment I received from my Father.”


text:
Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is possessed by a demon! A demon is not able to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”


text:
So the Jews surrounded him and began to say to him, “ How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly!”


text:
 Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe! The deeds that I do in the name of my Father, these testify about me.


text:
 And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish forever, and no one will seize them out of my hand.


text:
 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can seize them from the Father’s hand.


text:
 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?”


text:
The Jews answered him, “We are not going to stone you concerning a good deed, but concerning blasphemy, and because you, although you are a man, make yourself to be God!”


text:
 do you say about he whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?


text:
 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”


text:
And he went away again on the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there.


text:
And many came to him and began to say, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true!”


text:
(Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)


text:
 And when he heard it, Jesus said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”


text:
The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were seeking just now to stone you, and are you going there again?”


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


text:
 He said these things, and after this he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I can awaken him.”


text:
(Now Jesus had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about real sleep. )


text:
Then Thomas (the one who is called Didymus) said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go also, so that we may die with him.”


text:
Now Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house.


text:
 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live,


text:
She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”


text:
And when she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary privately, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”


text:
(Now Jesus has not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha went to meet him.)


text:
So the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary—that she stood up quickly and went out—followed her, because they thought that she was going to the tomb in order to weep there.


text:
Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”


text:
Then Jesus, when he saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping, was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled within himself.


text:
But some of them said, “Was not this man who opened the eyes of the blind able to do something so that this man also would not have died?”


text:
Then Jesus, deeply moved within himself again, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on it.


text:
 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the one who had died, said to him, “Lord, he is stinking already, because it has been four days.”


text:
 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes above and said, “Father, I give thanks to you that you hear me.


text:
 And I know that you always hear me, but for the sake of the crowd standing around I said it, so that they may believe that you sent me.”


text:
 The one who had died came out, his feet and his hands bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped with a facecloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”


text:
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs!


text:
If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”


text:
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, “You do not know anything at all!


text:
Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish.”


text:
(Now he did not say this from himself, but being high priest in that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,


text:
and not for the nation only, but also that the children of God who are scattered would be gathered into one.)


text:
So Jesus was no longer walking openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.


text:
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the surrounding country before the Passover, so that they could purify themselves.


text:
So they were looking for Jesus, and were speaking with one another while standing in the temple courts, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”


text:
(Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they should report it, in order that they could arrest him.)


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


text:
So they made him a dinner there, and Martha was serving, but Lazarus was one of the ones reclining at table with him.


text:
Then Mary took a pound of ointment of very valuable genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.


text:
(Now he said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)


text:
Now a large crowd of Jews found out that he was there, and they came, not only because of Jesus, but so that they could see Lazarus also, whom he raised from the dead.


text:
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,


text:
took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and began crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel!”


text:
(His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and they did these things to him.)


text:
So the crowd who was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify.


text:
Because of this also the crowd went to meet him, for they had heard that he had performed this sign.


text:
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing! Behold, the world has gone after him.”


text:
So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and began asking him saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.


text:
 The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.


text:
 If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.


text:
 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? But for this reason I have come to this hour!


text:
 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”


text:
Now the crowd that stood there and heard it said it had thundered. Others were saying, “An angel has spoken to him!”


text:
 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever ! And how do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”


text:
 So Jesus said to them, “Yet a little time the light is with you! Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness does not overtake you! And the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.


text:
 While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said these things, and then he went away and was hidden from them.


text:
in order that the word of the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said, “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”


text:
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn, and I heal them.”


text:
Yet despite that, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue.


text:
 But Jesus cried out and said, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me,


text:
 I have come as a light into the world, in order that everyone who believes in me will not remain in the darkness.


text:
 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I will not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.


text:
 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.


text:
 For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak.


text:
 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So the things that I say, just as the Father said to me, thus I say.”


text:
Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, and having loved his own in the world, loved them to the end.


text:
And as a dinner was taking place, when the devil had already put into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him,


text:
because he knew that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going away to God,


text:
he got up from the dinner and took off his outer clothing, and taking a towel, tied it around himself.


text:
Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them dry with the towel which he had tied around himself.


text:
 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.”


text:
 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet forever !” Jesus replied to him, “Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me.”


text:
 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed only needs to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.”


text:
 So when he had washed their feet and taken his outer clothing and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him.


text:
 “I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, ‘The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’


text:
 From now on I am telling you before it happens, in order that when it happens you may believe that I am he.


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.”


text:
 When he had said these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray me.”


text:
 Jesus replied, “It is he to whom I dip the piece of bread and give it to him.” Then after dipping the piece of bread, he gave it ﻿ to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.


text:
 And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you are doing, do quickly!”


text:
For some were thinking because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Purchase what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.)


text:
 Then, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.


text:
 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him immediately.


text:
 Children, yet a little time I am with you. You will seek me and just as I said to the Jews, “Where I am going you cannot come,” now I say also to you.


text:
 “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.


text:
 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.”


text:
 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!


text:
 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; but if not, I would have told you, because I am going away to prepare a place for you.


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


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


text:
 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you know him and have seen him.”


text:
 Jesus said to him, “Am I with you so long a time and you have not known me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’


text:
 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 from myself, but the Father residing in me does his works.


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


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in me, the works that I am doing he will do also, and he will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father.


text:
 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


text:
 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you forever —


text:
 the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him. You know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.


text:
 Yet a little time and the world will see me no longer, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.


text:
 The one who has my commandments and keeps them—that one is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”


text:
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, why is it that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”


text:
 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and will take up residence with him.


text:
 The one who does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.


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


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


text:
 You have heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.


text:
 I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no power over me.


text:
 But so that the world may know that I love the Father, and just as the Father has commanded me, thus I am doing. Get up, let us go from here!


text:
 Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit.


text:
 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.


text:
 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything.


text:
 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.


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


text:
 I have spoken these things to you in order that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be made complete.


text:
 No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you.


text:
 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain, in order that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.


text:
 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.


text:
 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.


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


text:
 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. But now they do not have a valid excuse for their sin.


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


text:
 But this happened so that the word that is written in their law would be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without a reason.’


text:
 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father—that one will testify about me.


text:
 They will expel you from the synagogue, but an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God.


text:
 But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you about them. “And I have not said these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.


text:
 But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’


text:
 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you 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.


text:
 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment:


text:
 But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come.


text:
 Everything that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he takes from what is mine and will proclaim it to you.


text:
 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going away to the Father’?”


text:
 So they kept on saying, “What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while ’? We do not understand what he is speaking about!”


text:
 Jesus knew that they were wanting to ask him, and he said to them, “Are you deliberating with one another about this—that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will change to joy.


text:
 A woman, when she gives birth, experiences pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the affliction, on account of the joy that a human being has been born into the world.


text:
 So you also are experiencing sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.


text:
 And on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.


text:
 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.


text:
 “I have said these things to you in figurative sayings. An hour is coming when I will speak to you in figurative sayings no longer, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.


text:
 On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf.


text:
 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.


text:
 I have gone out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”


text:
Now we know that you know everything and do not need for anyone to ask you questions. By this we believe that you have come from God.”


text:
 Behold, an hour is coming—and has come—that you will be scattered each one to his own home, and you will leave me alone. And I am not alone, because the Father is with me.


text:
 I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”


text:
 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven he said, “Father, the hour has come! Glorify your Son, in order that your Son may glorify you—


text:
 just as you have given him authority over all flesh, in order that he would give eternal life to them—everyone whom you have given him.


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


text:
 And now, Father, you glorify me at your side with the glory that I had at your side before the world existed.


text:
 “I have revealed your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me, and they have kept your word.


text:
 because the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they received them and know truly that I have come from you, and they have believed that you have sent me.


text:
 I am asking on behalf of them. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you have given me, because they are yours,


text:
 And I am no longer in the world, and they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given to me, so that they may be one, just as we are.


text:
 When I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given to me, and guarded them, and none of them has perished except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture would be fulfilled.


text:
 And now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in themselves.


text:
 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world just as I am not of the world.


text:
 “And I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word,


text:
 that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me.


text:
 And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, in order that they may be one, just as we are one—


text:
 I in them, and you in me, in order that they may be completed in one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.


text:
 “Father, those whom you have given to me—I want that those also may be with me where I am, in order that they may see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.


text:
 Righteous Father, although the world does not know you, yet I have known you, and these men have come to know that you sent me.


text:
 And I made known to them your name, and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I may be in them.”


text:
When Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples to the other side of the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden into which he and his disciples entered.


text:
(Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, also knew about the place, because Jesus often gathered there with his disciples.)


text:
So Judas, taking the cohort and officers from the chief priests and from the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


text:
 Then Jesus, because he knew all the things that were coming upon him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”


text:
 They replied to him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was also standing with them.)


text:
 in order that the word that he had spoken would be fulfilled: “Those whom you have given to me—I have not lost anyone of them.”


text:
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (Now the name of the slave was Malchus.)


text:
 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath! The cup that the Father has given me—shall I not drink it?”


text:
and brought him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.


text:
So Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. (Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.)


text:
But Peter was standing by the door outside. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.


text:
Then the female slave who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You are not also one of the disciples of this man, are you?” He said, “I am not!”


text:
(Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter was also standing there with them and warming himself.)


text:
 Jesus replied to him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple courts where all the Jews assemble, and I have said nothing in secret.


text:
 Why are you asking me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them! Behold, these people know what I said.”


text:
Now when he had said these things, one of the officers who was standing by gave a slap in the face to Jesus, saying, “Do you reply to the high priest in this way?”


text:
 Jesus replied to him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify about what is wrong! But if I have spoken correctly, why do you strike me?”


text:
Now Simon Peter was standing there and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”


text:
One of the slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”


text:
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s residence. Now it was early, and they did not enter into the governor’s residence so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.


text:
They answered and said to him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have handed him over to you!”


text:
So Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your law!” The Jews said to him, “It is not permitted for us to kill anyone,”


text:
in order that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled that he had spoken, indicating by what sort of death he was going to die.


text:
Then Pilate entered again into the governor’s residence and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”


text:
Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your people and the chief priests handed you over to me! What have you done?”


text:
 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”


text:
 Then Pilate said to him, “So then you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I have come into the world: in order that I can testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”


text:
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no basis for an accusation against him.


text:
But it is your custom that I release for you one prisoner at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”


text:
and were coming up to him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” and were giving him slaps in the face.


text:
And Pilate came outside again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing him outside to you, so that you will know that I find no basis for an accusation against him.”


text:
Then Jesus came outside wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and he said to them, “Behold the man!”


text:
So when they saw him, the chief priests and the officers shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “You take him and crucify him ! For I do not find a basis for an accusation against him.”


text:
The Jews replied to him, “We have a law, and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself out to be the Son of God!”


text:
and he entered into the governor’s residence again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.


text:
So Pilate said to him, “Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?”


text:
 Jesus replied to him, “You would not have any authority over me unless it was given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has greater sin.”


text:
From this point on Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews shouted, saying, “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar! Everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!”


text:
So Pilate, when he heard these words, brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat, in the place called The Stone Pavement (but Gabbatha in Aramaic).


text:
(Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour.) And he said to the Jews, “Behold your king!”


text:
Then those shouted, “Away with him ! Away with him ! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests replied, “We do not have a king except Caesar!”


text:
and carrying for himself the cross, he went out to the place called The Place of a Skull (which is called Golgotha in Aramaic),


text:
And Pilate also wrote a notice and placed it on the cross, and it was written: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”


text:
So many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.


text:
Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The king of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, I am king of the Jews.’ ”


text:
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothing and made four shares—for each soldier a share—and the tunic. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from the top in a single piece.)


text:
So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it apart, but cast lots for it, to see whose it will be,” so that the scripture would be fulfilled that says, “They divided my garments among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Thus the soldiers did these things.


text:
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.


text:
 So Jesus, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!”


text:
 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.


text:
 After this, Jesus, knowing that now at last everything was completed, in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”


text:
A jar full of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it to his mouth.


text:
 Then when he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed,” and bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.


text:
Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an important day), asked Pilate that their legs could be broken and they could be taken away.


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


text:
And the one who has seen it has testified, and his testimony is true, and that person knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.


text:
For these things happened in order that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be broken.”


text:
And after these things, Joseph who was from Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but a secret one for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate allowed it, so he came and took away his body.


text:
And Nicodemus—the one who had come to him formerly at night—also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds.


text:
So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in strips of linen cloth with the fragrant spices, as is the Jews’ custom to prepare for burial.


text:
Now there was a garden at the place where he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one was yet buried.


text:
So there, on account of the day of preparation of the Jews, because the tomb was close by, they buried Jesus.


text:
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone had been taken away from the tomb.


text:
So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord from the tomb and we do not know where they have put him!”


text:
And the two were running together, and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first.


text:
Then Simon Peter also came following him, and he went into the tomb and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there,


text:
and the facecloth that was on his head—not lying with the strips of linen cloth, but folded up separately in one place.


text:
But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bent over to look into the tomb,


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


text:
And 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 put him!”


text:
When she had said these things, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and she did not know that it was Jesus.


text:
 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought that it was the gardener, and said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.”


text:
 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned around and said to him in Aramaic, “ Rabboni ” (which means “Teacher”).


text:
 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.’ ”


text:
Mary Magdalene came and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and he had said these things to her.


text:
 Now when it was evening on that day—the first day of the week—and the doors had been shut where the disciples were because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.”


text:
And when he had said this, he showed his hands and his side to them. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.


text:
 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”


text:
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!”


text:
 And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Although the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace to you.”


text:
 Then he said to Thomas, “Place your finger here and see my hands, and place your hand and put it into my side. And do not be unbelieving, but believing!”


text:
 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”


text:
Now Jesus also performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not recorded in this book,


text:
but these things are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


text:
After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now he revealed himself in this way:


text:
Simon Peter and Thomas (who was called Didymus) and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together.


text:
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing!” They said to him, “We also are coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing.


text:
Now when it was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.


text:
 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you? They answered him, “No.”


text:
 And he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw it, and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish.


text:
Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tied around himself his outer garment (for he was naked) and threw himself into the sea.


text:
But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net of fish, because they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away.


text:
So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, and a fish lying on it, and bread.


text:
So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three—and although there were so many, the net was not torn.


text:
 Jesus said to them, “Come, eat breakfast!” But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew that it was the Lord.


text:
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead.


text:
 Now when they had eaten 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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs!”


text:
 He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep!”


text:
 He said to him a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed because he said to him a 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!


text:
 Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you tied your clothes around yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you up and carry you where you do not want to go.


text:
 (Now he said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God.) And after he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me!”


text:
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them (who also leaned back on his chest at the dinner and said, “Lord, who is the one betraying you?”)


text:
 So this saying went out to the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”


text:
This is the disciple who is testifying about these things, and who has written down these things. And we know that his testimony is true.


text:
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which—if they were written down one after the other—I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.


text:
until the day he was taken up, after he had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen,


text:
to whom he also presented himself alive after he suffered, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking the things about the kingdom of God.


text:
 And while he was with them, he commanded them, “Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me.


text:
 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”


text:
So when they had come together, they began asking him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”


text:
 But he said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.


text:
 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.”


text:
And after he had said these things, while they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.


text:
And as they were staring into the sky while he was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood by them


text:
who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand there looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven like this will come back in the same way you saw him departing into heaven!”


text:
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olive Grove which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.


text:
And when they had entered, they went up to the upstairs room 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.


text:
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.


text:
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (and it was a crowd of persons of about one hundred twenty at the same place ) and said,


text:
“Men and brothers, it was necessary that the scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit proclaimed beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,


text:
(Now this man acquired a field for the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out.


text:
And it became known to all who live in Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language “Akeldama,” that is, “Field of Blood.”)


text:
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his residence become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,’ and, ‘Let another person take his position.’


text:
Therefore it is necessary for one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,


text:
beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us—one of these men must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”


text:
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show clearly which one of these two you have chosen


text:
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to depart to his own place.”


text:
And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to serve with the eleven apostles.


text:
And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.


text:
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out.


text:
And when this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language.


text:
And they were astounded and astonished, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?


text:
Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those residing in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,


text:
both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the great deeds of God!”


text:
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them, “Judean men, and all those who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words!


text:
‘And it will be in the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.


text:
And even on my male slaves and on my female slaves I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.


text:
And I will cause wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke.


text:
The sun will be changed to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.


text:
“Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—


text:
this man, delivered up by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing to a cross through the hand of lawless men.


text:
God raised him up, having brought to an end the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.


text:
For David says with reference to him, ‘I saw the Lord before me continually, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.


text:
For this reason my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced greatly, furthermore also my flesh will live in hope,


text:
because you will not abandon my soul in Hades, nor will you permit your Holy One to experience decay.


text:
“Men and brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day.


text:
Therefore, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,


text:
by having foreseen this, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned in Hades nor did his flesh experience decay.


text:
Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this that you see and hear.


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


text:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!”


text:
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do, men and brothers?”


text:
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


text:
For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself.”


text:
And with many other words he solemnly urged and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!”


text:
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.


text:
And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.


text:
And they began selling their possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need.


text:
And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart,


text:
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.


text:
And a certain man was being carried who was lame from birth. He was placed every day at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful,” so that he could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple courts.


text:
But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I have, this I give to you—in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”


text:
And taking hold of him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.


text:
And leaping up, he stood and began walking around and entered into the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God.


text:
And they recognized him, that this one was the one who used to sit asking for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.


text:
And while he was holding fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, utterly astonished.


text:
And when he saw it, Peter replied to the people, “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?


text:
The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, after he had decided to release him.


text:
And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.


text:
But the things which God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he has fulfilled in this way.


text:
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ appointed for you—Jesus,


text:
whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times.


text:
Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you.


text:
And it will be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed utterly from the people.’


text:
And indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and all those who followed him have spoken about and proclaimed these days.


text:
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’


text:
God, after he had raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each of you back from your wickedness!”


text:
And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them,


text:
greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


text:
And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.


text:
But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.


text:
And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem,


text:
and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest’s family.


text:
And they made them stand in their midst and began to ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”


text:
if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed—


text:
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man stands before you healthy!


text:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved.”


text:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.


text:
And because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in return.


text:
saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them is evident to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it !


text:
But in order that it may not spread much further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name to anyone at all.”


text:
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide!


text:
So after threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened.


text:
And when they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.


text:
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,


text:
the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples conspire in vain?


text:
The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same place, against the Lord and against his Christ.’


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


text:
And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness,


text:
as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”


text:
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.


text:
Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common.


text:
And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.


text:
For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold


text:
and placing them at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.


text:
So Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite of Cyprus by nationality,


text:
and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his wife was aware of it. And he brought a certain part and placed it at the feet of the apostles.


text:
But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land?


text:
When it remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!”


text:
And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.


text:
And it happened that there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.


text:
And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you both were paid this much for the piece of land.” And she said, “Yes, this much.”


text:
So Peter said to her, “How is it that it was agreed by you two to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”


text:
And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her out and buried her with her husband.


text:
Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.


text:
so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and put them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow would fall on some of them.


text:
And the people of the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, who were all being healed.


text:
Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.


text:
And when they heard this, they entered at daybreak into the temple courts and began teaching. Now when the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel—and sent to the prison to have them brought.


text:
saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”


text:
Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, as to what this might be.


text:
But someone came and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!”


text:
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned by them ).


text:
And when they had brought them, they made them stand in the Sanhedrin, and the high priest put a question to them,


text:
saying, “ We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!”


text:
This one God has exalted to his right hand as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.


text:
And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”


text:
But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.


text:
And he said to them, “Men and Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men!


text:
For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.


text:
After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and caused people to follow him in revolt. And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered.


text:
And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown.


text:
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.


text:
And they summoned the apostles, beat them, commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.


text:
So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name.


text:
Every day, both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ was Jesus.


text:
Now in these days, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.


text:
So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables.


text:
So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.


text:
And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch),


text:
And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying the faith.


text:
But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen ( as it was called ), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and disputed with Stephen.


text:
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!”


text:
And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came up and seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin.


text:
And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place and the law!


text:
For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”


text:
And as they looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face was like the face of an angel.


text:
So he said, “Men—brothers and fathers—listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,


text:
and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your relatives and come to the land that I will show you.’


text:
Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he caused him to move to this land in which you now live.


text:
And he did not give him an inheritance in it—not even a footstep —and he promised to give it to him for his possession, and to his descendants after him, although he did not have a child.


text:
But God spoke like this: ‘His descendants will be foreigners in a foreign land, and they will enslave them and mistreat them four hundred years,


text:
and the nation that they will serve as slaves, I will judge,’ God said, ‘and after these things they will come out and will worship me in this place.’


text:
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac did so with Jacob, and Jacob did so with the twelve patriarchs.


text:
and rescued him from all his afflictions and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And he appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.


text:
And a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan and great affliction, and our fathers could not find food.


text:
And on the second visit Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.


text:
And they were brought back to Shechem and buried in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


text:
“But as the time of the promise that God had made to Abraham was drawing near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt


text:
This man deceitfully took advantage of our people and mistreated our ancestors, causing them to abandon their infants so that they would not be kept alive.


text:
At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. He was brought up for three months in his father’s house,


text:
“But when he was forty years old, it entered in his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.


text:
And when he saw one of them being unjustly harmed, he defended him and avenged the one who had been oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.


text:
And he thought his brothers would understand that God was granting deliverance to them by his hand, but they did not understand.


text:
And on the following day, he made an appearance to them while they were fighting and was attempting to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men and brothers, why are you doing wrong to one another?’


text:
But the one who was doing wrong to his neighbor pushed him aside, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?


text:
And at this statement, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.


text:
“And when forty years had been completed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai in the flame of a burning bush.


text:
And when Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight, and when he approached to look at it, the voice of the Lord came:


text:
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob!’ So Moses began trembling and did not dare to look at it.


text:
And the Lord said to him, ‘Untie the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.


text:
I have certainly seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’


text:
This Moses whom they had repudiated, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?’ —this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


text:
This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.


text:
“This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’


text:
This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and who with our fathers received living oracles to give to us,


text:
to whom our fathers were not willing to become obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,


text:
saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go on before us! For this Moses, who led us out from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him!’


text:
And they manufactured a calf in those days, and offered up a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing in the works of their hands.


text:
But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, just as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘You did not bring offerings and sacrifices to me for forty years in the wilderness, did you, house of Israel?


text:
And you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images that you made, to worship them, and I will deport you beyond Babylon!’


text:
The tabernacle of the testimony belonged to our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the design that he had seen,


text:
and which, after receiving it in turn, our fathers brought in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out from the presence of our fathers, until the days of David,


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


text:
“ You stiff-necked people and uncircumcised in hearts and in your ears! You constantly resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so also do you!


text:
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become,


text:
Now when they heard these things, they were infuriated in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him.


text:
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.


text:
And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”


text:
And after they had driven him out of the city, they began to stone him, and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.


text:
And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after he said this, he fell asleep.


text:
And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.


text:
But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and delivered them to prison.


text:
And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing.


text:
For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.


text:
Now a certain man named Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great.


text:
They were all paying attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’ ”


text:
And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic.


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


text:
And Simon himself also believed, and after he was baptized he was keeping close company with Philip. And when he saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.


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


text:
(For he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)


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


text:
saying, “Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!”


text:
But Peter said to him, “May your silver be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God by means of money!


text:
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!”


text:
But Simon answered and said, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”


text:
So when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they turned back toward Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.


text:
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)


text:
And he got up and went, and behold, there was a man, an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury) who had come to worship in Jerusalem


text:
So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, “So then, do you understand what you are reading?”


text:
And he said, “So how could I, unless someone will guide me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.


text:
Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.


text:
In his humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his descendants? For his life was taken away from the earth.”


text:
And the eunuch answered and said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”


text:
So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him about Jesus.


text:
And as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”


text:
And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water—Philip and the eunuch—and he baptized him.


text:
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.


text:
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.


text:
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest


text:
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring them tied up to Jerusalem.


text:
Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.


text:
 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”


text:
(Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.)


text:
So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.


text:
 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, here I am, Lord!”


text:
 And the Lord said to him, “Get up, go to the street called ‘Straight’ and in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul from Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,


text:
 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”


text:
But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,


text:
 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.


text:
So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”


text:
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight and got up and was baptized,


text:
and after taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus several days.


text:
And all who heard him were amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem on those who call upon this name, and had come here for this reason, that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?”


text:
But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this one is the Christ.


text:
But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him.


text:
And when he arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.


text:
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.


text:
And he was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to do away with him.


text:
Then the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened. And living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing in numbers.


text:
Now it happened that as Peter was traveling through all the places, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.


text:
And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who was paralyzed, who had been lying on a mat for eight years.


text:
And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed yourself!” And immediately he got up.


text:
Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple named Tabitha (which translated means “Dorcas”). She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.


text:
Now it happened that in those days after becoming sick, she died. And after washing her, they placed her in an upstairs room.


text:
And because Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was in Lydda, sent two men to him, urging, “Do not delay to come to us!”


text:
So Peter got up and accompanied them. When he arrived, they brought him up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing him tunics and other clothing that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.


text:
But Peter sent them all outside, and, falling to his knees, he prayed. And turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.


text:
And he gave her his hand and raised her up. And he called the saints and the widows and presented her alive.


text:
Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort,


text:
devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God continually.


text:
About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”


text:
And he stared at him and became terrified and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God.


text:
And when the angel who spoke to him departed, he summoned two of the household slaves and a devout soldier from those who attended him,


text:
And the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour.


text:
And he became hungry and wanted to eat. But while they were preparing the food, a trance came over him.


text:
And he saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet coming down, being let down to the earth by its four corners,


text:
And the voice came again to him for the second time: “ The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!”


text:
Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate.


text:
And while Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, men are looking for you.


text:
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am he whom you are looking for! What is the reason for which you have come?”


text:
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man—and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews—was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.”


text:
So he invited them in and entertained them as guests, and on the next day he got up and went away with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.


text:
And on the next day he entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.


text:
And he said to them, “You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean.


text:
Therefore—and without raising any objection—I came when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me.”


text:
And Cornelius said, “ Four days ago at this hour, the ninth, I was praying in my house. And behold, a man in shining clothing stood before me


text:
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charitable deeds have been remembered before God.


text:
Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.


text:
Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord.”


text:
So Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality,


text:
As for the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all—


text:
you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed:


text:
Jesus of Nazareth—how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.


text:
And we are witnesses of all the things that he did both in the land of the Judeans and in Jerusalem, whom they also executed by hanging him on a tree.


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


text:
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this one is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and of the dead.


text:
To this one all the prophets testify, that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”


text:
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message.


text:
And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,


text:
“Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!”


text:
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.


text:
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had accepted the word of God.


text:
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision—an object something like a large sheet coming down, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me.


text:
As I looked intently into it, I was considering it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild animals and the reptiles and the birds of the sky.


text:
 But the voice replied from heaven for the second time, ‘ The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!’


text:
And behold, at once three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea approached the house in which we were staying.


text:
And the Spirit told me to accompany them, not hesitating at all. So these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the man’s house.


text:
And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter,


text:
 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’


text:
Therefore if God gave them the same gift as also to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”


text:
And when they heard these things, they became silent and praised God, saying, “Then God has granted the repentance leading to life to the Gentiles also!”


text:
Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone.


text:
But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, began to speak to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.


text:
And the report came to the attention of the church that was in Jerusalem about them, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch,


text:
who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,


text:
because he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large number were added to the Lord.


text:
And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened to them also that they met together for a whole year with the church and taught a large number of people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.


text:
And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that a great famine was about to come over the whole inhabited earth (which took place in the time of Claudius).


text:
So from the disciples, according to their ability to give, each one of them determined to send financial aid for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,


text:
And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. ( Now this was during the feast of Unleavened Bread.)


text:
After he had arrested him, he also put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.


text:
Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him.


text:
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison.


text:
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near him, and a light shone in the prison cell. And striking Peter’s side, he woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly !” And his chains fell off of his hands.


text:
And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals!” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!”


text:
And he went out and was following him. And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision.


text:
And after they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out and went forward along one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him.


text:
And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know truly that the Lord has sent out his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and all that the Jewish people expected !”


text:
And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John (who is also called Mark), where many people were gathered together and were praying.


text:
And recognizing Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.


text:
But they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting it was so. And they kept saying, “It is his angel!”


text:
But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and to the brothers,” and he departed and went to another place.


text:
Now when day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers as to what then had become of Peter.


text:
And when Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.


text:
Now he was very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. So they came to him with one purpose, and after persuading Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country was supported with food from the king’s country.


text:
So on an appointed day Herod, after putting on royal clothing and sitting down on the judgment seat, began to deliver a public address to them.


text:
And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give the glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.


text:
So Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had completed their service, having taken along with them John (who is also called Mark).


text:
Now there were prophets and teachers in Antioch in the church that was there: Barnabas, and Simeon (who was called Niger), and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.


text:
And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”


text:
Therefore, sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus.


text:
And when they came to Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John as assistant.


text:
And when they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,


text:
who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wished to hear the word of God.


text:
But Elymas the magician (for his name is translated in this way) opposed them, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


text:
and said, “O you who are full of all deceit and of all unscrupulousness, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness! Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord!


text:
And now behold, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a while. And immediately mist and darkness fell over him, and he was going around looking for people to lead him by the hand.


text:
Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astounded at the teaching about the Lord.


text:
Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.


text:
And they went on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch. And they entered into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath and sat down.


text:
So after the reading from the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Men and brothers, if there is any message of exhortation by you for the people, say it.”


text:
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Israelite men, and those who fear God, listen!


text:
The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.


text:
And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave their land to his people as an inheritance.


text:
This took about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.


text:
And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.


text:
And after removing him, he raised up David for their king, about whom he also said, testifying, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man in accordance with my heart, who will carry out all my will.’


text:
But while John was completing his mission, he said, ‘What do you suppose me to be? I am not he ! But behold, one is coming after me of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of his feet!’


text:
“Men and brothers, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who fear God—to us the message of this salvation has been sent!


text:
For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize this one, and the voices of the prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.


text:
And when they had carried out all the things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.


text:
who appeared for many days to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem—who are now his witnesses to the people.


text:
this promise God has fulfilled to our children by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’


text:
But that he has raised him from the dead, no more going to return to decay, he has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the reliable divine decrees of David.’


text:
For David, after serving the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was buried with his fathers, and experienced decay.


text:
“Therefore let it be known to you, men and brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and from all the things from which you were not able to be justified by the law of Moses,


text:
‘Look, you scoffers, and be astonished and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you would never believe even if someone were to tell it to you.’ ”


text:
And as they were going out, they began urging that these things be spoken about to them on the next Sabbath.


text:
And after the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.


text:
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting what was being said by Paul by reviling him.


text:
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you, since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life! Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles!


text:
For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you would bring salvation to the end of the earth.’


text:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of the Lord. And all those who were designated for eternal life believed.


text:
But the Jews incited the devout women of high social standing and the most prominent men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their district.


text:
Now it happened that in Iconium they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.


text:
But the Jews who were disobedient stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.


text:
So they stayed there for a considerable time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed through their hands.


text:
So when an inclination took place on the part of both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,


text:
they became aware of it and fled to the Lycaonian cities—Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region.


text:
And in Lystra a certain man was sitting powerless in his feet, lame from birth, who had never walked.


text:
This man listened while Paul was speaking. Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,


text:
And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language, saying, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!”


text:
And the priest of the temple of Zeus that was just outside the city brought bulls and garlands to the gates and was wanting to offer sacrifice, along with the crowds.


text:
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothing and rushed out into the crowd, shouting


text:
and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the 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 the things that are in them—


text:
And yet he did not leave himself without witness by doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with gladness.”


text:
And although they said these things, only with difficulty did they dissuade the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.


text:
But Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.


text:
But after the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. And on the next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.


text:
And after they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,


text:
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying, “Through many persecutions it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God.”


text:
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, after praying with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.


text:
and from there they sailed away to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.


text:
And when they arrived and called the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.


text:
And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”


text:
And after there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue.


text:
So they were sent on their way by the church, and passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.


text:
And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them.


text:
But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to observe the law of Moses!”


text:
And after there was much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe.


text:
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.


text:
So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?


text:
But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way those also are.”


text:
And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.


text:
Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name.


text:
‘After these things I will return and build up again the tent of David that has fallen, and the parts of it that had been torn down I will build up again and will restore it,


text:
so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things


text:
Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,


text:
but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.


text:
For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”


text:
Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers—


text:
writing this letter to be delivered by them: The apostles and the elders, brothers. To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Greetings!


text:
Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders— and have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds,


text:
it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision, and having chosen men, to send them to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,


text:
For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:


text:
that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things you will do well. Farewell.


text:
So when they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and after calling together the community, they delivered the letter.


text:
Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message.


text:
And after spending some time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.


text:
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others also.


text:
And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come then, let us return and visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”


text:
but Paul held the opinion they should not take this one along, who departed from them in Pamphylia and did not accompany them in the work.


text:
And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,


text:
And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman but of a Greek father,


text:
Paul wanted this one to go with him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek.


text:
And as they went through the towns, they passed on to them to observe the rules that had been decided by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.


text:
And they traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.


text:
And when they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.


text:
And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing there and imploring him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”


text:
And when he had seen the vision, we wanted at once to go away to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.


text:
So putting out to sea from Troas, we sailed a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis,


text:
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And we were staying in this city for some days.


text:
And on the day of the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate beside the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women assembled there.


text:
And a certain woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a merchant dealing in purple cloth who showed reverence for God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul.


text:
And after she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.


text:
And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain female slave who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing a large profit to her owners by fortune-telling.


text:
She followed Paul and us and was crying out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”


text:
And she was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out immediately.


text:
But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.


text:
And when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews,


text:
and are proclaiming customs that are not permitted for us to accept or to practice, because we are Romans!”


text:
And the crowd joined in attacking them, and the chief magistrates tore off their clothing and gave orders to beat them with rods.


text:
And after they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely.


text:
Having received such an order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.


text:
Now about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.


text:
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened.


text:
And after the jailer was awake and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought the prisoners had escaped.


text:
And demanding lights, he rushed in and, beginning to tremble, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas.


text:
And he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his household.


text:
And he brought them up into his house and set a meal before them, and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household.


text:
And the jailer reported these words to Paul: “The chief magistrates have sent an order that you should be released. So come out now and go in peace!”


text:
But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without due process—men who are Roman citizens— and threw us into prison, and now they are wanting to release us secretly? Certainly not! Rather let them come themselves and bring us out!”


text:
So the police officers reported these words to the chief magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.


text:
And they came and apologized to them, and after they brought them out they asked them to depart from the city.


text:
And when they came out of the prison, they went to Lydia and when they saw them, they encouraged the brothers and departed.


text:
Now after they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


text:
And as was his custom, Paul went in to them and on three Sabbath days he discussed with them from the scriptures,


text:
explaining and demonstrating that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”


text:
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and also a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.


text:
But the Jews were filled with jealousy and, taking along some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace and forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar. And attacking Jason’s house, they were looking for them to bring them out to the popular assembly.


text:
And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here also,


text:
whom Jason has entertained as guests! And these people are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus!”


text:
Now the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas at once, during the night, to Berea. They went into the synagogue of the Jews when they arrived.


text:
Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so.


text:
But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the message of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and stirring up the crowds.


text:
So then the brothers sent Paul away at once to go to the sea, and both Silas and Timothy remained there.


text:
And those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.


text:
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he observed the city was full of idols.


text:
So he was discussing in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.


text:
And even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What does this babbler want to say?” But others said, “He appears to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.


text:
And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we learn what is this new teaching being proclaimed by you?


text:
For you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”


text:
(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)


text:
So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see you are very religious in every respect.


text:
For as I was passing through and observing carefully your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an unknown God.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you—


text:
the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,


text:
nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything.


text:
And he made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation,


text:
to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,


text:
for in him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said: ‘For we also are his offspring.’


text:
Therefore, because we are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.


text:
Therefore although God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,


text:
because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”


text:
Now when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, “We will hear you about this again also.”


text:
But some people joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.


text:
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus who had arrived recently from Italy along with Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome, and he went to them.


text:
And because he was practicing the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.


text:
Now when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to be occupied with the message, solemnly testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.


text:
And when they resisted and reviled him, he shook out his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!”


text:
And leaving there, he entered into the house of someone named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God whose house was next door to the synagogue.


text:
And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his whole household. And many of the Corinthians, when they heard about it, believed and were baptized.


text:
 And the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent,


text:
 because I am with you and no one will attack you to harm you, because many people are mine in this city.”


text:
Now when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one purpose against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,


text:
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it was some crime or wicked villainy, O Jews, I would have been justified in accepting your complaint.


text:
But if it is questions concerning a word and names and your own law, see to it yourselves! I do not wish to be a judge of these things.”


text:
So they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. And none of these things was a concern to Gallio.


text:
So Paul, after remaining many days longer, said farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchrea, because he had taken a vow.


text:
So they arrived at Ephesus, and those he left behind there, but he himself entered into the synagogue and discussed with the Jews.


text:
but saying farewell and telling them, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.


text:
And after spending some time there, he departed, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.


text:
Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, arrived in Ephesus—an eloquent man who was well-versed in the scriptures.


text:
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being enthusiastic in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.


text:
And 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.


text:
And when he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed through grace.


text:
For he was vigorously refuting the Jews in public, demonstrating through the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.


text:
And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and came to Ephesus and found some disciples.


text:
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!”


text:
And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus.”


text:
And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.


text:
So he entered into the synagogue and was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convince them concerning the kingdom of God.


text:
But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them and took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.


text:
And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.


text:
so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to those who were sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.


text:
But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!”


text:
But the evil spirit answered and said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?”


text:
And the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, subdued all of them, and prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded.


text:
And this became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted.


text:
and many of those who practiced magic brought together their books and burned them up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was fifty thousand silver coins.


text:
Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.”


text:
So after sending two of those who were assisting him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed some time in Asia.


text:
For someone named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen.


text:
These he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we get our prosperity,


text:
and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this man Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd by saying that the gods made by hands are not gods.


text:
So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours will come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing—and she is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, she whom the whole of Asia and the entire world worship!”


text:
And when they heard this and became full of rage, they began to shout, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”


text:
And the city was filled with the tumult, and with one purpose they rushed into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were traveling companions of Paul.


text:
And even some of the Asiarchs who were his friends sent word to him and were urging him not to risk himself by going into the theater.


text:
So some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know why they had assembled.


text:
And some of the crowd advised Alexander, when the Jews put him forward. But Alexander, motioning with his hand, was wanting to defend himself to the popular assembly.


text:
But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all of them for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”


text:
And when the city secretary had quieted the crowd, he said, “Ephesian men, for who is there among men who does not know the Ephesian city is honorary temple keeper of the great Artemis and of her image fallen from heaven?


text:
Therefore because these things are undeniable, it is necessary that you be quiet and do nothing rash!


text:
If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the court days are observed and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another!


text:
Now after the turmoil had ceased, Paul summoned the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed to travel to Macedonia.


text:
and stayed three months. Because a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he came to a decision to return through Macedonia.


text:
And Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, and Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia, were accompanying him.


text:
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread and came to them at Troas within five days, where we stayed seven days.


text:
And on the first day of the week, when we had assembled to break bread, Paul began conversing with them, because he was going to leave on the next day, and he extended his message until midnight.


text:
And a certain young man named Eutychus who was sitting in the window was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul was conversing at length. Being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead.


text:
But Paul went down and threw himself on him, and putting his arms around him, said, “Do not be distressed, for his life is in him.”


text:
So he went up and broke bread, and when he had eaten and talked for a long time, until dawn, then he departed.


text:
But we went on ahead to the ship and put out to sea for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For having made arrangements in this way, he himself was intending to travel by land.


text:
And we sailed from there on the next day, and arrived opposite Chios. And on the next day we approached Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.


text:
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not be having to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying if it could be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.


text:
And when they came to him, he said to them, “You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I was the whole time with you—


text:
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews—


text:
how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and from teaching you in public and from house to house,


text:
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks with respect to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.


text:
“And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,


text:
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town after town, saying that bonds and persecutions await me.


text:
But I consider my life as worth nothing to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.


text:
“And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more.


text:
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own Son.


text:
And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking perversions of the truth in order to draw away the disciples after them.


text:
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.


text:
“And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


text:
You yourselves know that these hands served to meet my needs and the needs of those who were with me.


text:
 I have shown you with respect to all things that by working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”


text:
especially distressed at the statement that he had said, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.


text:
And it happened that after we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea, and running a straight course we came to Cos and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


text:
And after we sighted Cyprus and left it behind on the port side, we sailed to Syria and arrived at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.


text:
And we stayed there seven days after we found the disciples, who kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.


text:
And it happened that when our days were over, we departed and went on our way, while all of them accompanied us, together with their wives and children, as far as outside the city. And after falling to our knees on the beach and praying,


text:
And when we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. And after we greeted the brothers, we stayed one day with them.


text:
And on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.


text:
And he came to us and took Paul’s belt. Tying up his own feet and hands, he said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”


text:
And when we heard these things, both we and the local residents urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.


text:
Then Paul replied, “What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!”


text:
And some of the disciples from Caesarea also traveled together with us, bringing us to a certain Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing, with whom we were to be entertained as guests.


text:
And after greeting them, he began to relate one after the other the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.


text:
And when they heard this, they began to glorify God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law.


text:
And they have been informed about you that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles the abandonment of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs.


text:
Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that the things which they had been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself also agree with observing the law.


text:
But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter after deciding they should avoid food sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.”


text:
Then Paul took along the men on the next day, and after he had purified himself together with them, he entered into the temple courts, announcing the completion of the days of purification until the time the offering would be presented on behalf of each one of them.


text:
But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia who had seen him in the temple courts stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,


text:
shouting, “Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!”


text:
(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.)


text:
And the whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together, and they seized Paul and dragged him outside of the temple courts, and immediately the doors were shut.


text:
And as they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the military tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.


text:
He immediately took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the military tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


text:
Then the military tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done.


text:
But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others another, and because he was not able to find out the truth on account of the commotion, he gave orders to bring him into the barracks.


text:
And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd,


text:
And as he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the military tribune, “Is it permitted for me to say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?


text:
Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”


text:
But Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city. Now I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.”


text:
So when he permitted him, Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Aramaic language, saying,


text:
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language, they became even more silent. And he said,


text:
“I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.


text:
as indeed the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me, from whom also I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and was traveling there to lead away those who were there also tied up to Jerusalem so that they could be punished.


text:
“And it happened that as I was traveling and approaching Damascus around noon, suddenly a very bright light from heaven flashed around me,


text:
 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’


text:
(Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.)


text:
 So I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and proceed to Damascus, and there it will be told to you about all the things that have been appointed for you to do.’


text:
And as I could not see as a result of the brightness of that light, I arrived in Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me.


text:
And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,


text:
came to me and stood by me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And at that same time I looked up at him and saw him.


text:
And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth,


text:
“And it happened that when I returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple courts, I was in a trance,


text:
 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and depart quickly from Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’


text:
And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that from synagogue to synagogue I was imprisoning and beating those who believed in you.


text:
And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself also was standing near and was approving, and was guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.’


text:
Now they were listening to him until this word, and they raised their voices, saying, “Away with such a man from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!”


text:
the military tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying he was to be examined with a lash so that he could find out for what reason they were crying out against him in this way.


text:
But when they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it permitted for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”


text:
And when the centurion heard this, he went to the military tribune and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!”


text:
So the military tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”


text:
And the military tribune replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I indeed was born a citizen.


text:
Then immediately those who were about to examine him kept away from him, and the military tribune also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.


text:
But on the next day, because he wanted to know the true reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble, and he brought down Paul and had him stand before them.


text:
And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.”


text:
Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?”


text:
And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”


text:
Now when Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!”


text:
And when he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.


text:
(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)


text:
And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”


text:
And when the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.


text:
 And the next night the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”


text:
And when it was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.


text:
who went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul.


text:
Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”


text:
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks and reported it to Paul.


text:
So Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.”


text:
So he took him and brought him to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”


text:
And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?”


text:
And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.


text:
You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”


text:
So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”


text:
And he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea.


text:
This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the detachment and rescued him, because I learned that he was a Roman citizen.


text:
And because I wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.


text:
I found he was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment.


text:
And when it was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also ordering his accusers to speak against him before you.


text:
Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night.


text:
The horsemen, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.


text:
So after reading the letter and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia,


text:
he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium of Herod.


text:
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, all of whom brought charges against Paul to the governor.


text:
And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced much peace through you, and reforms are taking place in this nation through your foresight.


text:
But so that I may not impose on you for longer, I implore you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.


text:
For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who causes riots among all the Jews throughout the Roman Empire and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,


text:
When you yourself examine him you will be able to find out from him about all these things of which we are accusing him.”


text:
And when the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “ Because I know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully with respect to the things concerning myself.


text:
You can ascertain that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.


text:
And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city.


text:
But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets,


text:
having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.


text:
But there are some Jews from Asia who ought to be present before you and bring charges against me, if they have anything against me,


text:
other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted while standing there before them: ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!’ ”


text:
But Felix, because he understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the military tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”


text:
He ordered the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own people from serving him.


text:
And after some days, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus.


text:
And while he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Go away for the present, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.”


text:
At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and talked with him.


text:
And when two years had passed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus. And because he wanted to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul behind as a prisoner.


text:
And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him,


text:
asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way.


text:
Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself was about to go there in a short time.


text:
So he said, “Let those among you who are prominent go down with me, and if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him.”


text:
And after he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat and gave orders for Paul to be brought.


text:
And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove,


text:
while Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!”


text:
But Festus, because he wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered and said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these things?”


text:
But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.


text:
If then I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid dying. But if there is nothing true of the things which these people are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”


text:
Then Festus, after discussing this with his council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you will go!”


text:
And while they were staying there many days, Festus laid out the case against Paul to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left behind by Felix as a prisoner,


text:
concerning whom when I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented evidence, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.


text:
To them I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met his accusers face to face and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation.


text:
Therefore, when they had assembled here, I made no delay; on the next day I sat down on the judgment seat and gave orders for the man to be brought.


text:
When they stood up, his accusers began bringing no charge concerning him of the evil deeds that I was suspecting,


text:
but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.


text:
And because I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things.


text:
But when Paul appealed that he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”


text:
So Agrippa said to Festus, “I want to hear the man myself also.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”


text:
So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And when Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.


text:
And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he must not live any longer.


text:
But I understood that he had done nothing deserving death himself, and when this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.


text:
I do not have anything definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all —and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write.


text:
So Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and began to defend himself:


text:
“Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that before you I am about to defend myself today,


text:
because you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me with patience.


text:
“Now all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem,


text:
having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.


text:
to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!


text:
Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many things opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene,


text:
which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being executed, I cast my vote against them.


text:
And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often and tried to force them to blaspheme, and because I was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing them even as far as to foreign cities.


text:
In this activity I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests.


text:
In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.


text:
 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads!’


text:
 But get up and stand on your feet, because for this reason I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you,


text:
 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 share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’


text:
but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance.


text:
Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, and I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen,


text:
that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”


text:
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane !”


text:
But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality.


text:
For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped his notice, because this was not done in a corner.


text:
And Paul replied, “I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!”


text:
And as they were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.”


text:
And when it was decided that we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan Cohort.


text:
And we went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along the coast of Asia and put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.


text:
And on the next day, we put in at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for.


text:
And from there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.


text:
And after we had sailed across the open sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia.


text:
And sailing slowly, in many days and with difficulty we came to Cnidus. Because the wind did not permit us to go further, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.


text:
And sailing along its coast with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.


text:
And because considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul strongly recommended,


text:
saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage is going to end with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!”


text:
But the centurion was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner than by what was said by Paul.


text:
And because the harbor was unsuitable for spending the winter in, the majority decided on a plan to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing toward the southwest and toward the northwest, to spend the winter there.


text:
And when a southwest wind began to blow gently, because they thought they could accomplish their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed close along Crete.


text:
And when the ship was caught and was not able to head into the wind, we gave way and were driven along.


text:
And running under the lee of a certain small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control.


text:
After hoisting it up, they made use of supports to undergird the ship. And because they were afraid lest they run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and thus were driven along.


text:
And because we were violently battered by the storm, on the next day they began jettisoning the cargo,


text:
But when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and with not a little bad weather confronting us, finally all hope was abandoned that we would be saved.


text:
And because many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice not to put out to sea from Crete, and thus avoided this damage and loss!


text:
And now I urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life from among you, but only of the ship.


text:
saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’


text:
Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to the way it was told to me.


text:
And when the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven in the Adriatic Sea about the middle of the night, the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.


text:
And taking soundings, they found twenty fathoms. So going on a little further and taking soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms.


text:
And because they were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.


text:
And when the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending as if they were going to lay out anchors from the bow,


text:
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved!”


text:
And until the day was about to come, Paul was urging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited anxiously, and you have continued without eating, having taken nothing.


text:
Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is necessary for your preservation. For not a hair from your head will be lost.”


text:
And after he said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after breaking it, he began to eat.


text:
And when they had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.


text:
Now when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they decided to run the ship ashore if they could.


text:
And slipping the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the wind that was blowing, they held course for the beach.


text:
But falling into a place of crosscurrents, they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and stayed immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence.


text:
Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape by swimming away,


text:
but the centurion, because he wanted to save Paul, prevented them from doing what they intended, and gave orders that those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land,


text:
and then the rest, some of whom floated on planks and some of whom on anything that was from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.


text:
And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary kindness to us, for they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold.


text:
And when Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.


text:
And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he was rescued from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live!”


text:
But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead. So after they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began saying that he was a god.


text:
Now in the regions around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.


text:
And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went to him and after praying, he placed his hands on him and healed him.


text:
And after this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also.


text:
They also honored us with many honors, and when we were putting out to sea, they gave us the things we needed.


text:
Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian one with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia.


text:
From there we got underway and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind came up and on the second day we came to Puteoli,


text:
where we found brothers, and were implored to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.


text:
And from there the brothers, when they heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When he saw them, Paul gave thanks to God and took courage.


text:
And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.


text:
Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans,


text:
who, when they had examined me, were wanting to release me, because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me.


text:
But because the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I had any charge to bring against my own people).


text:
Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!”


text:
And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.


text:
But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”


text:
And when they had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.


text:
So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers,


text:
saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “ You will keep on hearing and will never understand, and you will keep on seeing and will never perceive.


text:
For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” ’


text:
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”


text:
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.


text:
who was declared Son of God in power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ our Lord,


text:
through whom we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name,


text:
To all those in Rome who are loved by God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
First, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in the whole world.


text:
For God, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, is my witness, how constantly I make mention of you,


text:
For I desire to see you, in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, in order to strengthen you,


text:
Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that often I intended to come to you, and was prevented until now, in order that I might have some fruit among you also, just as also among the rest of the Gentiles.


text:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


text:
For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.”


text:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of people, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,


text:
For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse.


text:
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.


text:
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God with the likeness of an image of mortal human beings and birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.


text:
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to immorality, that their bodies would be dishonored among themselves,


text:
who exchanged the truth of God with a lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed for eternity. Amen.


text:
Because of this, God gave them over to degrading passions, for their females exchanged the natural relations for those contrary to nature,


text:
and likewise also the males, abandoning the natural relations with the female, were inflamed in their desire toward one another, males with males committing the shameless deed, and receiving in themselves the penalty that was necessary for their error.


text:
And just as they did not see fit to recognize God, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do the things that are not proper,


text:
being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greediness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malevolence. They are gossipers,


text:
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, contrivers of evil, disobedient to parents,


text:
who, although they know the requirements of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do they do the same things, but also they approve of those who do them.


text:
Therefore you are without excuse, O man, every one of you who passes judgment. For in that which you pass judgment on someone else, you condemn yourself, for you who are passing judgment are doing the same things.


text:
But do you think this, O man who passes judgment on those who do such things, and who does the same things, that you will escape the judgment of God?


text:
Or do you despise the wealth of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?


text:
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,


text:
but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger.


text:
There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, of the Jew first and of the Greek,


text:
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.


text:
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.


text:
For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, although they do not have the law, are a law to themselves,


text:
who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts one after another accusing or even defending them


text:
on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus.


text:
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law.


text:
Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal?


text:
The one who says not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one who abhors idols, do you rob temples?


text:
For circumcision is of value if you do the law, but if you should be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


text:
Therefore, if the uncircumcised person follows the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be credited for circumcision?


text:
And the uncircumcised person by nature who carries out the law will judge you who, though provided with the precise written code and circumcision are a transgressor of the law.


text:
But the Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, whose praise is not from people but from God.


text:
What is the result if some refused to believe? Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?


text:
May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written, “In order that you may be justified in your words, and may prevail when you are judged.”


text:
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.)


text:
But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner?


text:
And why not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, in order that good may come of it? Their condemnation is just!


text:
What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,


text:
All have turned aside together; they have become worthless; There is no one who practices kindness; there is not even one.


text:
Their throat is an opened grave; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is under their lips,


text:
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God.


text:
For by the works of the law no person will be declared righteous before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.


text:
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—


text:
that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no distinction,


text:
whom God made publicly available as the mercy seat through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins,


text:
in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith in Jesus.


text:
Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.


text:
Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles,


text:
since God is one, who will justify those who are circumcised by faith and those who are uncircumcised through faith.


text:
For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”


text:
But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness,


text:
just as David also speaks about the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:


text:
Therefore, is this blessing for those who are circumcised, or also for those who are uncircumcised? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.”


text:
How then was it credited? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised but while uncircumcised !


text:
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised, so that righteousness could be credited to them,


text:
and the father of those who are circumcised to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.


text:
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants, that he would be heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness by faith.


text:
Because of this, it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise may be secure to all the descendants, not only to those of the law, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all


text:
(just as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) before God, in whom he believed, the one who makes the dead alive and who calls the things that are not as though they are,


text:
who against hope believed in hope, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was said, “so will your descendants be.”


text:
And not being weak in faith, he considered his own body as good as dead, because he was approximately a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.


text:
And he did not waver in unbelief at the promise of God, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God


text:
but also for the sake of us to whom it is going to be credited, to those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,


text:
who was handed over on account of our trespasses, and was raised up in the interest of our justification.


text:
Therefore, because we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.


text:
And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance,


text:
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.


text:
For only rarely will someone die on behalf of a righteous person (for on behalf of a good person possibly someone might even dare to die),


text:
Therefore, by much more, because we have been declared righteous now by his blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath.


text:
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, by much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life.


text:
And not only this, but also we are boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.


text:
Because of this, just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death spread to all people because all sinned.


text:
For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one’s account when there is no law.


text:
But death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who is to come.


text:
But the gift is not like the trespass, for if by the trespass of the one, the many died, by much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, multiply to the many.


text:
And the gift is not as through the one who sinned, for on the one hand, judgment from the one sin led to condemnation, but the gift, from many trespasses, led to justification.


text:
For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.


text:
Consequently therefore, as through one trespass came condemnation to all people, so also through one righteous deed came justification of life to all people.


text:
For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.


text:
Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance,


text:
so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


text:
Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we may live a new way of life.


text:
For if we have become identified with him in the likeness of his death, certainly also we will be identified with him in the likeness of his resurrection,


text:
knowing this, that our old man was crucified together with him, in order that the body of sin may be done away with, that we may no longer be enslaved to sin.


text:
knowing that Christ, because he has been raised from the dead, is going to die no more, death no longer being master over him.


text:
For that death he died, he died to sin once and never again, but that life he lives, he lives to God.


text:
and do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.


text:
Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, leading to death, or obedience, leading to righteousness?


text:
But thanks be to God that you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted,


text:
(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members as slaves to immorality and lawlessness, leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.


text:
Therefore what sort of fruit did you have then, about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.


text:
But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit leading to sanctification, and its end is eternal life.


text:
For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
Or do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is master of a person for as long a time as he lives?


text:
For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband.


text:
Therefore as a result, if she belongs to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she belongs to another man.


text:
So then, my brothers, you also were brought to death with respect to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.


text:
For when we were in the flesh, sinful desires were working through the law in our members, to bear fruit for death.


text:
But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to that by which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter of the law.


text:
What then shall we say? Is the law sin? May it never be! But I would not have known sin except through the law, for I would not have known covetousness if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”


text:
But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin is dead.


text:
and I died, and this commandment which was to lead to life was found with respect to me to lead to death.


text:
Therefore, did that which is good become death to me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be recognized as sin, producing death through what is good for me, in order that sin might become sinful to an extraordinary degree through the commandment.


text:
For what I am doing I do not understand, because what I want to do, this I do not practice, but what I hate, this I do.


text:
For I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my flesh. For the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.


text:
But if what I do not want to do, this I am doing, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me.


text:
Consequently, I find the principle with me, the one who wants to do good, that evil is present with me.


text:
but I observe another law in my members, at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that exists in my members.


text:
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself with my mind am enslaved to the law of God, but with my flesh I am enslaved to the law of sin.


text:
For what was impossible for the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,


text:
in order that the requirement of the law would be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


text:
For those who are living according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, but those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit.


text:
because the mindset of the flesh is enmity toward God, for it is not subjected to the law of God, for it is not able to do so,


text:
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.


text:
But if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.


text:
And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.


text:
For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


text:
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”


text:
and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him.


text:
For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us.


text:
For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it, in hope


text:
that the creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay, into the glorious freedom of the children of God.


text:
Not only this, but we ourselves also, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves while we await eagerly our adoption, the redemption of our body.


text:
And likewise also, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as one ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unexpressed groanings.


text:
And the one who searches our hearts knows what the mindset of the Spirit is, because he intercedes on behalf of the saints according to the will of God.


text:
And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose,


text:
because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers.


text:
And those whom he predestined, these he also called, and those whom he called, these he also justified, and those whom he justified, these he also glorified.


text:
Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, together with him, freely give us all things?


text:
Who is the one who condemns? Christ is the one who died, and more than that, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.


text:
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword?


text:
Just as it is written, “On account of you we are being put to death the whole day long; we are considered as sheep for slaughter.”


text:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,


text:
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
I am telling the truth in Christ— I am not lying; my conscience bears witness to me in the Holy Spirit—


text:
For I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my fellow countrymen according to the flesh,


text:
who are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the temple service, and the promises,


text:
to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom is the Christ according to human descent, who is God over all, blessed forever ! Amen.


text:
But it is not as if the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,


text:
nor are they all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but “In Isaac will your descendants be named.”


text:
That is, it is not the children by human descent who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.


text:
for although they had not yet been born, or done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God according to election might remain,


text:
For to Moses he says, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”


text:
Consequently therefore, it does not depend on the one who wills or on the one who runs, but on God who shows mercy.


text:
For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very reason I have raised you up, so that I may demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”


text:
On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this”?


text:
Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump a vessel that is for honorable use and one that is for ordinary use?


text:
And what if God, wanting to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?


text:
And he did so in order that he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory,


text:
As he also says in Hosea, “I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and those who were not loved, ‘Loved.’


text:
And it will be in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ”


text:
And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “ Even if the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved,


text:
And just as Isaiah foretold, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom and would have resembled Gomorrah.”


text:
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—even the righteousness that is by faith.


text:
Why that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble,


text:
just as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that causes them to fall, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”


text:
For ignoring the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.


text:
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: “The person who does this will live by it.”


text:
But the righteousness from faith speaks like this: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down),


text:
But what does it say? “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),


text:
that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


text:
For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.


text:
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who is rich to all who call upon him.


text:
How then will they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about him without one who preaches to them?


text:
And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How timely are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.”


text:
But I say, they have not heard, have they? On the contrary, “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”


text:
But I say, Israel did not know, did they? First, Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.”


text:
And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became known to those who did not ask for me.”


text:
But about Israel he says, “The whole day long I held out my hands to a disobedient and resistant people.”


text:
Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.


text:
God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew! Or do you not know, in the passage about Elijah, what the scripture says—how he appeals to God against Israel?


text:
“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!”


text:
But what does the divine response say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”


text:
What then? What Israel was searching for, this it did not obtain. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened,


text:
just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, until this very day.”


text:
And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a cause for stumbling and a retribution to them;


text:
I say then, they did not stumble so that they fell, did they? May it never be! But by their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.


text:
And if their trespass means riches for the world and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean?


text:
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry,


text:
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean except life from the dead?


text:
Now if the first fruits are holy, so also is the whole batch of dough, and if the root is holy, so also are the branches.


text:
Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although you were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness,


text:
do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against them, you do not support the root, but the root supports you.


text:
Well said! They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand firm because of faith. Do not think arrogant thoughts, but be afraid.


text:
See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity upon those who have fallen, but upon you the kindness of God—if you continue in his kindness, for otherwise you also will be cut off.


text:
And those also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again.


text:
For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?


text:
For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you will not be wise in your own sight, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,


text:
and so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, “The deliverer will come out of Zion; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.


text:
With respect to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but with respect to election, they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.


text:
For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these,


text:
so also these have now been disobedient for your mercy, in order that they also may now be shown mercy.


text:
Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how incomprehensible are his ways!


text:
Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.


text:
And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.


text:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think sensibly, as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one.


text:
but having different gifts according to the grace given to us: if it is prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;


text:
if it is one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.


text:
Think the same thing toward one another; do not think arrogantly, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own sight.


text:
Do not take revenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.


text:
But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this, you will heap up coals of fire upon his head.”


text:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God.


text:
So then, the one who resists authority resists the ordinance which is from God, and those who resist will receive condemnation on themselves.


text:
For rulers are not a cause of terror for a good deed, but for bad conduct. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it,


text:
for it is God’s servant to you for what is good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God’s servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does what is bad.


text:
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.


text:
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are servants of God, busily engaged in this very thing.


text:
Pay to everyone what is owed: pay taxes to whom taxes are due; pay customs duties to whom customs duties are due; pay respect to whom respect is due; pay honor to whom honor is due.


text:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for the one who loves someone else has fulfilled the law.


text:
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are summed up in this statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


text:
And do this because you know the time, that it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we believed.


text:
The night is far gone, and the day has drawn near. Therefore let us throw off the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light.


text:
Let us live decently, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy.


text:
The one who eats must not despise the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats, because God has accepted him.


text:
Who are you, who passes judgment on the domestic slave belonging to someone else? To his own master he stands or falls, and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.


text:
One person prefers one day over another day, and another person regards every day alike. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.


text:
The one who is intent on the day is intent on it for the Lord, and the one who eats eats for the Lord, because he is thankful to God, and the one who does not eat does not eat for the Lord, and he is thankful to God.


text:
For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.


text:
For Christ died and became alive again for this reason, in order that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.


text:
But why do you judge your brother? Or also, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.


text:
For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will praise God.”


text:
Therefore, let us no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide this: not to place a cause for stumbling or a temptation before a brother.


text:
I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself, except to the one who considers something to be unclean; to that person it is unclean.


text:
For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died.


text:
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


text:
Do not destroy the work of God on account of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong for the person who eats and stumbles in the process.


text:
It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is weakened.


text:
The faith that you have, have with respect to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not pass judgment on himself by what he approves.


text:
But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.


text:
For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”


text:
For whatever was written beforehand was written for our instruction, in order that through patient endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.


text:
Now may the God of patient endurance and of encouragement grant you to be in agreement with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,


text:
For I say, Christ has become a servant of the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises to the fathers,


text:
and that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, just as it is written, “Because of this, I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name.”


text:
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will put their hope.”


text:
Now 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.


text:
Now I myself also am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to instruct one another.


text:
But I have written to you more boldly on some points, so as to remind you again because of the grace that has been given to me by God,


text:
with the result that I am a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


text:
For I will not dare to speak about anything except that which Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,


text:
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and traveling around as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.


text:
And so, having as my ambition to proclaim the gospel where Christ has not been named, in order that I will not build on the foundation belonging to someone else,


text:
but just as it is written, “ Those to whom it was not announced concerning him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”


text:
and now, no longer having a place in these regions, but having a desire for many years to come to you


text:
whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope while I am passing through to see you and to be sent on my way by you, whenever I have first enjoyed your company for a while.


text:
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.


text:
For they were pleased to do so, and they are obligated to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to serve them in material things.


text:
Therefore, after I have accomplished this and sealed this fruit for delivery to them, I will depart by way of you for Spain,


text:
Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God,


text:
that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,


text:
in order that you may welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever task she may have need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, even me myself.


text:
who risked their own necks for my life, for which not only I am thankful, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;


text:
also greet the church in their house. Greet Epenetus my dear friend, who is the first convert of Asia for Christ.


text:
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners, who are well known to the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.


text:
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, the laborers in the Lord. Greet Persis, the dear friend who has worked hard in the Lord.


text:
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.


text:
Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them.


text:
For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach, and by smooth speech and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.


text:
For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, and I want you to be wise toward what is good, but innocent toward what is evil.


text:
And in a short time the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


text:
Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus the brother.


text:
to the church of God sanctified in Christ Jesus that is in Corinth, called to be saints, together with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours.


text:
I give thanks to my God always concerning you, because of the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus,


text:
so that you do not lack in any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and there not be divisions among you, and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose.


text:
For it has been made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.


text:
But I say this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” and “I am with Apollos,” and “I am with Cephas,” and “I am with Christ.”


text:
Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?


text:
(Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that I do not know if I baptized anyone else.)


text:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with clever speech, lest the cross of Christ be emptied.


text:
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.


text:
For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will confound.”


text:
Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


text:
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.


text:
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.


text:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.


text:
For consider your calling, brothers, that not many were wise according to human standards, not many were powerful, not many were well born.


text:
But the foolish things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the strong,


text:
and the insignificant of the world, and the despised, God chose, the things that are not, in order that he might abolish the things that are,


text:
But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,


text:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.


text:
and my speech and my preaching were not with the persuasiveness of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power,


text:
Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but wisdom not of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing,


text:
but we speak the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory,


text:
which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


text:
But just as it is written, “ Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.”


text:
For to us God has revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.


text:
For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man that is in him? Thus also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.


text:
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order that we may know the things freely given to us by God,


text:
things which we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.


text:
But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.


text:
And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to fleshly people, as to infants in Christ.


text:
I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to eat it. But now you are still not able,


text:
for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and do you not live like unregenerate people?


text:
For whenever anyone says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human?


text:
Therefore, what is Apollos and what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave.


text:
So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who is causing it to grow.


text:
Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one, but each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.


text:
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must direct his attention to how he is building upon it.


text:
the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is.


text:
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.


text:
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy this one. For God’s temple is holy, which you are.


text:
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks himself to be wise among you in this age, let him become a fool, in order that he may become wise.


text:
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, “The one who catches the wise in their craftiness,”


text:
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come, all things are yours,


text:
But to me it is a very little matter that I be judged by you or by a human court, but I do not even judge myself.


text:
For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord.


text:
Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord should come, who will both enlighten the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the counsels of hearts, and then praise will come to each one from God.


text:
Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos for your sake, in order that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, lest someone be inflated with pride on behalf of one person against the other.


text:
For who concedes you superiority? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?


text:
Already you are satiated! Already you are rich! Apart from us you reign as kings! And would that indeed you reigned as kings, in order that we also might reign as kings with you!


text:
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to people.


text:
We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!


text:
Until the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless,


text:
and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;


text:
when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.


text:
For if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the gospel.


text:
Because of this, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.


text:
But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk of the ones who have become arrogant, but the power.


text:
It is reported everywhere that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind which does not even exist among the Gentiles, so that someone has the wife of his father.


text:
And you are inflated with pride, and should you not rather have mourned, so that the one who has done this deed would be removed from your midst?


text:
For although I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already passed judgment on the one who has done this in this way, as if I were present.


text:
In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus,


text:
I have decided to hand over such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.


text:
Clean out the old leaven in order that you may be a new batch of dough, just as you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.


text:
So then, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and sinfulness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


text:
By no means did I mean the sexually immoral people of this world or the greedy people and swindlers or idolaters, since then you would have to depart out of the world.


text:
But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler—with such a person not even to eat.


text:
Does anyone among you, if he has a matter against someone else, dare to go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?


text:
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is judged, are you unworthy of the most insignificant courts?


text:
Therefore, if you have courts with regard to ordinary matters, do you seat these despised people in the church?


text:
I say this to your shame. So is there not anyone wise among you who will be able to render a decision between his brothers?


text:
Therefore it is already completely a loss for you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?


text:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Neither sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor passive homosexual partners, nor dominant homosexual partners,


text:
nor thieves, nor greedy persons, not drunkards, not abusive persons, not swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.


text:
And some of you were these things, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.


text:
All things are permitted for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be controlled by anything.


text:
Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food, but God will abolish both of them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


text:
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Therefore, shall I take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!


text:
Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, “The two will become one flesh.”


text:
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the one who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.


text:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?


text:
But because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and let each woman have her own husband.


text:
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does.


text:
Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be together again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self control.


text:
I wish all people could be like myself, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.


text:
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.


text:
But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.


text:
Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.


text:
And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.


text:
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.


text:
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us in peace.


text:
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?


text:
But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live—and thus I order in all the churches.


text:
Was anyone called after being circumcised? He must not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? He must not become circumcised.


text:
Were you called while a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of it.


text:
For the one who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedperson. Likewise the one who is called while free is a slave of Christ.


text:
Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.


text:
Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that it is good for a man to be thus.


text:
But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you.


text:
But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives,


text:
and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess,


text:
and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.


text:
But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.


text:
and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.


text:
Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.


text:
But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry.


text:
But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well.


text:
So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.


text:
A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord.


text:
But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.


text:
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


text:
Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world” and that “ there is no God except one.”


text:
For even if after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords,


text:
yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we are for him, and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we are through him.


text:
But this knowledge is not in everyone. But some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat this food as food sacrificed to idols, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.


text:
But food does not bring us close to God. For neither if we eat do we have more, nor if we do not eat do we lack.


text:
For if someone should see you who has knowledge reclining for a meal in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, because it is weak, be strengthened so that he eats the food sacrificed to idols?


text:
Now if you sin in this way against the brothers and wound their conscience, which is weak, you sin against Christ.


text:
Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat forever, in order that I may not cause my brother to sin.


text:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?


text:
If to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you, for you are my seal of apostleship in the Lord.


text:
Do we not have the right to take along a sister as wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


text:
Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Who shepherds a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock?


text:
I am not saying these things according to a human perspective. Or does the law not also say these things?


text:
For in the law of Moses it is written, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.” It is not about oxen God is concerned, is it?


text:
Or doubtless does he speak for our sake? For it is written for our sake, because the one who plows ought to plow in hope and the one who threshes ought to do so in hope of a share.


text:
If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too great a thing if we reap material things from you?


text:
If others share this right over you, do we not do so even more? Yet we have not made use of this right, but we endure all things, in order that we may not cause any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.


text:
Do you not know that those performing the holy services eat the things from the temple, and those attending to the altar have a share with the altar?


text:
But I have not made use of any of these rights. And I am not writing these things in order that it may be thus with me. For it would be better to me rather to die than for anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.


text:
For if I proclaim the gospel, it is not to me a reason for boasting, for necessity is imposed on me. For woe is to me if I do not proclaim the gospel.


text:
For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward, but if I do so unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.


text:
What then is my reward? That when I proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel free of charge, in order not to make full use of my right in the gospel.


text:
For although I am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.


text:
I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law ( although I myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law.


text:
To those outside the law I became as outside the law ( although I am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law.


text:
To the weak I became weak, in order that I may gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that by all means I may save some.


text:
Do you not know that those who run in the stadium all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.


text:
And everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things. Thus those do so in order that they may receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.


text:
But I discipline my body and subjugate it, lest somehow after preaching to others, I myself should become disqualified.


text:
For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all went through the sea,


text:
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.


text:
Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we should not be desirers of evil things, just as those also desired them,


text:
and not become idolaters, as some of them did, just as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play,”


text:
nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day,


text:
Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.


text:
Temptation has not come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make a way out together with the temptation, so that you may be able to endure it.


text:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?


text:
Consider Israel according to the flesh: are not the ones who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?


text:
Therefore, what am I saying? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?


text:
No, but that the things which they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers with demons.


text:
You are not able to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You are not able to share the table of the Lord and the table of demons.


text:
All things are permitted, but not all things are profitable. All things are permitted, but not all things build up.


text:
If any of the unbelievers invites you, and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of the conscience.


text:
But if someone says to you, “This is offered to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and the conscience.


text:
Now I am not speaking about your own conscience, but the conscience of the other person. For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?


text:
just as I also please all people in all things, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of the many, in order that they may be saved.


text:
Now I praise you that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them.


text:
But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and the head of Christ is God.


text:
but every woman who prays or prophesies with uncovered head dishonors her head, for she is one and the same with the one whose head is shaved.


text:
For if a woman does not cover herself, let her hair be shorn off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her head shorn or shaved, let her cover her head.


text:
For indeed a man ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.


text:
Because of this, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, on account of the angels.


text:
Nevertheless, neither is woman anything apart from man, nor is man anything apart from woman in the Lord.


text:
For just as the woman is from the man, thus also the man is through the woman. But all things are from God.


text:
But in giving this instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.


text:
For in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.


text:
For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you.


text:
For when you eat it, each one of you goes ahead to take his own supper, and one is hungry and another is drunk.


text:
For do you not have houses for eating and drinking? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who do not have anything? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you !


text:
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread,


text:
 and after he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


text:
 Likewise also the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”


text:
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.


text:
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.


text:
But let a person examine himself, and in this way let him eat from the bread and let him drink from the cup.


text:
For the one who eats and drinks, if he does not recognize the body, eats and drinks judgment against himself.


text:
But if we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined, in order that we will not be condemned with the world.


text:
So then, my brothers, when you come together in order to eat the Lord’s supper, wait for one another.


text:
If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And I will give directions about the remaining matters whenever I come.


text:
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the speechless idols, however you were led.


text:
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,” and no one is able to say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.


text:
For to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit,


text:
to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.


text:
But in all these things one and the same Spirit is at work, distributing to each one individually just as he wishes.


text:
For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, although they are many, are one body, thus also Christ.


text:
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free persons, and all were made to drink one Spirit.


text:
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” not because of this is it not a part of the body.


text:
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body, not because of this is it not a part of the body.


text:
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?


text:
Now the eye is not able to say to the hand, “I do not have need of you,” or again, the head to the feet, “I do not have need of you.”


text:
and the parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, these we clothe with more abundant honor, and our unpresentable parts come to have more abundant presentability,


text:
but our presentable parts do not have need of this. Yet God composed the body by giving more abundant honor to the part which lacked it,


text:
in order that there not be a division in the body, but the members would have the same concern for one another.


text:
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if a member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.


text:
and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.


text:
Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all are workers of miracles, are they?


text:
Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak with tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?


text:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a ringing brass gong or a clashing cymbal.


text:
And if I have the gift of prophecy and I know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


text:
And if I parcel out all my possessions, and if I hand over my body in order that I will be burned, but do not have love, it benefits me nothing.


text:
Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not boast, it does not become conceited,


text:
it does not behave dishonorably, it is not selfish, it does not become angry, it does not keep a record of wrongs,


text:
Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will pass away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will pass away.


text:
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside the things of a child.


text:
For now we see through a mirror indirectly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know completely, just as I have also been completely known.


text:
For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries.


text:
Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.


text:
But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching?


text:
Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre?


text:
And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.


text:
Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a barbarian to the one who is speaking, and the one who is speaking will be a barbarian in my judgment.


text:
In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.


text:
Therefore what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind.


text:
For otherwise, if you praise in your spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the outsider say the “amen” at your thanksgiving, because he does not know what you are saying?


text:
but in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind, in order that I may instruct other people, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


text:
Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in your understanding be mature.


text:
In the law it is written: “By those who speak a foreign language and by the lips of others I will speak to this people, and not even in this way will they obey me,” says the Lord.


text:
So then, tongues are for a sign not to those who believe, but to unbelievers, but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.


text:
Therefore, if the whole church comes together at the same time and all speak with tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?


text:
But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all,


text:
the secret things of his heart become evident, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”


text:
Therefore what should you do, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.


text:
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be on one occasion two or at most three, and one after the other, and one must interpret.


text:
But if there is no interpreter, he must be silent in the church, but let him speak to himself and to God.


text:
the women must be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be in submission, just as the law also says.


text:
But if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.


text:
If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that the things which I am writing to you are of the Lord.


text:
Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed to you, which you have also received, in which you also stand,


text:
by which you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the message I proclaimed to you, unless you believed to no purpose.


text:
For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,


text:
then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the majority of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.


